It’s a wonderful time of year, but with all activities, excitement and family obligations taking place at same time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed and even a tad bit gloomy. Here are 9 simple steps to relax, let go and really enjoy a truly happy holiday!

1.Reflect on what an inspiration you are to others. The time you spend, love you give and enthusiasm with which you do it all with is what matters most to people close to you. The beautifully wrapped presents and bows are far less important than your loving friendship. You are appreciated and cherished in lives of so many people. Love yourself with same appreciation.

2.Be honest with yourself and don’t stuff your feelings. As you start to feel range of emotions this holiday… whether it is joy or fear… frustration or liberation…Don’t push them away like last season’s Prada bag. Give them a special place. It will be far easier to enjoy holiday if you are honest with yourself and experience all good, bad and normal parts of life. Be as accepting and generous with yourself as you are with people in your life you care about most.

3.Show empathy and compassion. Our internal perception is reality. Whenever you show kind hearted compassion, you’ll get it back in return.

4.Be grateful for all wonderful differences, preferences and opinions that you will encounter this holiday. Try to view life from a different perspective. Talk about differences that may come up in a loving way and make a special effort to sit on same side of table (literally and figuratively). See if you can find it in your heart to love and appreciate Uncle Joe’s crazy quirk that normally sends you through roof. The joy and peacefulness of understanding another’s perspective while still honoring your own is a feeling to be savored!

I am always bothered whenever I see someone criticizing another person in a loud, angry, and boisterous manner. It bothers me because, although it may have been meant to be constructive, it is, in reality, destructive for both parties. And I know that experience does not have to be destructive.

What criticizing person fails to realize is that he (or she) is showing his ignorance. He is actually demonstrating his unhappiness with himself.

Consequently, he concentrates on what is wrong with everything instead of what is right. He does not see sky; he sees rainy clouds. He does not see true potential of his wife, his children, or his employees; he only sees their tiny natural mistakes.

This person concentrates on specks of dust that may be found on a masterpiece and misses masterpiece, itself. As a result, he goes through life missing beauty and gusto of life.