Did you know that we have more receptor sites on our body and in our energy fields for joy than we do for pain?  We are literally hardwired for joy.  As an energy therapist and life coach, I am frequently asked, “So, what are some easy things to do to feel better more often and access more feelings of joy?”

With the Holidays upon us, here are some of my favorite and easy tips to make our experiences this Season more intentional and fulfilling. I am always impressed with the great blessings we receive with just a little bit of effort on our part.  You can do all or some of the following tips this season to increase your joy intake.

• Create the type of Holiday you would like to have spiritually first through meditation or prayer.   Take five minutes at the beginning of your day to do this.  Imagine how you’d like your Holiday to look: Who would be there?  How would you feel?  How would they feel?  Notice how gracefully and easy the cooking or gift giving is.  Notice the environment free of stress.  See the parking spaces open up to you.  See the sights, sounds, and smells. Feel the peace.  At night, give gratitude for the physical results of your spiritual creation.
  

• Open up your Heart Chakra.  Our Heart Chakra is an energy center located on our chest.  It carries feelings of hope and love.  When disconnected, it can hold feelings of depression, heaviness and grief.  If you are feeling down this Holiday, give your energy support by stirring your Heart Chakra.  Do this by making a fist with your hand.  Hold your fist about four to six inches above your chest.  Make a circle using your fist to stir the energy clockwise (as if you had a clock on your chest facing up).  As you do this say, “I am okay no matter what.  Everyone else is okay no matter what.”  You can also add any affirmation you’d like. 
  

• Write Holiday affirmations to focus your energy.  Remember, what you focus on grows.  Write a list of affirmations either on a piece of paper or on your bathroom mirror with dry erase markers.  Start the affirmations with either “I am….” or “I am experiencing…..” or “I am grateful for……”  For example, “I am grateful for traveling safely to all of my Holiday events.”  “I am experiencing a lot of sleep and rest.”  “I am peaceful.”  “I am knowing exactly how to serve others this holiday.”  “I am experiencing all of my needs met.”  “I am having fun with all of this.”  Review your list often to change your focus to love and joy this  Holiday.
  
• “Zip-up” energetically before you go shopping or are out in large crowds.   There is a lot of energy floating around during the Holidays- and not all of it is uplifting.  We read and pick up other people’s energy before we do anything else- even before we notice their body language or tone of voice.  You have built in energy systems that are designed to protect you from negative energies.  To zip up is easy!  Just use your hand to draw an imaginary line from your pelvic bone up to your lips.  The line should go straight up through your torso.  Repeat three times.  What you are doing is actually tracing a main energy meridian with your hands that are electro magnetic.  This tells the energy to zip-up and protect. However, it actually makes you more available to share your cheery self, because you are not taking on other people’s energy stuff.

Remember, we are designed for joy.  It is suppose to be easy.  So, let it be easy.