Self-help Articles

by Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D.

There are four suggestions I'd offer to you to enrich the season:

1. Practice ritual. Don't rely only on your church or synagogue for such rituals. Develop some yourself. Some rituals might include times of family sharing of holidays past to include stories about loved ones who are gone, prayer times at specific points during the season in which prayer is spontaneous and reflects each person's thoughts and feelings, or perhaps the scheduled practice of meaningful acts of kindness.
2. Foster memories. Think of this season as a building time in which you and your family forge some of the history which can be a source of comfort and enjoyment in the future. Family traditions can be a rich source of such memory-building.
3. Practice simplicity. Clearly the biggest challenge to the spiritual meaning of these days is rampant commercialism. Resist it. Focus on quality rather than quantity when it comes to gifts.
4. Keep your sense of humor. Crowded stores and busy highways give rise to bah-humbugism if you're not careful.

Your family holiday season can be an enriching time of togetherness.

About the Author:

Richard B. Patterson, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist in private practice in El Paso, TX. He is the author of three books on psychology and spirituality.