What gift are you giving yourself this Christmas?

Christmas is one of my favourite times of year.   It can also be a stressful time as it’s easy to get caught up in the mad rush to Christmas.   Work deadlines.  Presents to buy and wrap.  Meals to arrange.  Parties to attend.  There’s often a lot of juggling to get it all done.

While Christmas is a time for giving to others and being generous, it’s also a great time to think about what you need to give yourself.

 This isn’t a monetary focused present, but rather a gift that helps set you up to having a fabulous 2016. 

If that’s the criteria, what gift would you give yourself?

 Here are ten suggestions to help you out:

Gift of learning - Enrol in a free online course such as those offered via Cousera or Edx.  Buy a book on a topic that you know nothing about.  Book in for a course that will take your leadership and personal development to the next level.

Gift of time - Set aside some “me” time.   This is time that is devoted to something that you want to do.  Preferably it is also time when you are by yourself.

Gift of courage – Pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is the first step in growing.  Try new things and explore the boundaries to see what you are capable of achieving.

Gift of tranquillity – You need space to hear yourself think and to ponder.  As the saying goes: “Reflection causes learning”.  Reflection is critical if you want to understand yourself and what drives your behaviour and decisions.

Gift of patience – This is a gift for yourself and others.  We all make mistakes.  The difference is what you do with them, and the learnings you take away.  Have the patience to understand your mistakes and the patience to apply a different ap

Gift of adventure - Life is an adventure and it’s your choice as to what you do with it.  Take an interest in exploring new ideas.  Meet new people.  Go to new places.  Break the cycle of the familiar and seek what is different. 

Gift of curiosity – There is so much to learn and understand.  Be curious about what you don’t know and be interested in finding out what you can learn.  Take the time to think about these new learnings and what they could mean for how you live your life.

Gift of friendship – Connections and friendships are crucial for a happy and fulfilled life.   Reach out to people and extend the hand of friendship.  Seek friendships beyond your usual circle to help broaden your perspective and challenge your assumptions.

Gift of gratitude – We all have things we can be grateful for.  It can be simple: the sun is shining or I had a great cup of coffee.   Being grateful is a key ingredient for a fulfilled life.

Gift of service – Doing things for other people makes you feel good.   Acting in service of others is not a chore, but a gift that you can offer every day to those around you.

To thrive through the complexity of today’s world you need to be kind to yourself.  Take some time out to do things for yourself that help you be the best person you can be.  The good news is that most of this doesn’t involve dollars. It just involves time and commitment.

Have a wonderful, safe and relaxing festive season.   

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Give yourself the ultimate gift - the gift of knowledge and learning

I'm a big fan of giving yourself a gift at Christmas, and I want to help make that possible.  Book and pay to attend the "Step up for Success" program before the 25th December 2015 and the session will cost $550 (+GST) – a 15% discount from the standard rate.

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 Michelle Gibbings is known for making the complex, simple.  She helps people to think more deliberately, act with greater purpose and accelerate progress by understanding the art and science of human behaviour.  

 e: michelle@changemeridian.com.au

www.changemeridian.com.au