It is this time of year again, emotional pressures run high and we have wholly unreasonable expectations of ourselves and others. Coping with Christmas is a challenge for many of us, but you can make it easier on yourself using the law of attraction to your advantage.

So, you probably feel that all the media hype of having a good time is shallow and designed to make you part with your hard earned cash.

These feelings have their place, alas they do nothing to help you cope with the festive season. So, what can you do to make life easier on yourself?

If you are familiar with the law of attraction and its basic tenets you will know that your thoughts and feelings attract your reality. Your thoughts and feelings are just like an echo, you send it out and it comes back.

You obviously know that the nature of an echo is that it repeats itself, and this is precisely what the law of attraction does. You think one thought, you have a feeling and it comes back, but compounded. This is great, if the thoughts and feelings are positive and congruent, but decisively bad news if your thoughts and feelings are in any way limiting and negative. The more pervasive the thoughts and feelings the more pervasive the echo and your compounded negative reality.

I hear you exclaim: "How on earth can I fight against the overwhelming commercial frenzies of the festive season? I have to keep everyone happy, it is expected of me."

Oops, is it really expected of you to run after everyone, fulfills everyone's expectations and ignore your own needs? Think about this, how on earth will you be of any use to anyone, if you yourself lack inner peace and are not in balance with yourself.

The universe is interconnected. You cannot feel bad about something, or yourself without it influencing those around you. And vice versa, when you feel good, you cannot do so without it having an impact on the people around you. I know what I would choose, any time.

You have a choice and can choose your feelings. It is actually easier than you think. Use this Christmas for a little expanded awareness practice. Teach yourself to notice your thoughts. Observe your negative thoughts and then learn to quickly reframe them into positive thoughts. Micro EFT is a great tool for this and you can learn how to use it in minutes.

It takes no longer than 30 seconds or so to put into action, but believe me, if you use it throughout your day, you will soon hunt down those negativities, notice how they really do you no good and change them into positive thoughts. Once you notice how this little practice makes you feel better every time you use it, you will want to make it a permanent part of your life.

I have used Micro EFT to increase my mental flexibility for a long time now and can vouch for its effectiveness. With regular use you will become much more aware of your thoughts and this gives you the choice to either keep thinking the same thoughts or to change them.I also teach it in my workshops and retreats as part of the expanded cognitive awareness programme in The Happy Venn Diagram of environment, body and mind.

You cannot change the festive season, nor the frenzied actions of the people around you, but you can change how you react to it and how you see it. So, use this Christmas to build and flex your mental muscles, you will get a great sense of achievement and personal power, if nothing else. To me that is worth having any time.

Author's Bio: 

Mercedes Oestermann van Essen is a human development coach and energy therapist. She has created the Happy Venn Diagram for environment, body and mind and teaches integral life principles in her books, audios, workshops and retreats. www.throughhappiness.com