Radically reduce or eliminate the number of obligations you have in your life which aren't critical to your responsibilities or directly related to what you're especially on this earth to do / be.
If you find yourself complaining about something you have to do, even though you don't care to or need to, you're on the path to fulfilling an unnecessary (and expensive) obligation.
THE HOLIDAY OBLIGATION TEST
Of course, you already know whether you're going to pass or fail this one. Trust your instincts! Do you feel like you have to send holiday cards this year? Do you have to send them to everyone who sent you one last year?
Do you have to attend every party to which you've been invited? Do you have to host that party again? Do you have to give everyone on your list a gift...with a similar value to the one they gave you?
Do you have to get together with the family, meeting everyone else's expectations just like you have for the past few decades? Do you have to bring the same jello-ring or cream-cheese appetizer? Do you have to be exhausted by the end of the holiday season?
Now the context: There are great reasons to do any and all of the things listed above. The real test though, is if they aren't exactly your responsibilities and you feel like you HAVE to do them instead of want to.
Wouldn't you prefer to get a gift from someone who wanted to give it to you, instead of had to? Wouldn't you like to spend time with others who really want to be there with you? You get the point.
LESS IS MORE
Haven't you been secretly yearning for more meaning in your life...to be able to spend more time, effort and energy on the things which matter most for you? One of the keys is to free up yourself (and your family) from obligations by being bold enough to say "no" to those things which don't make your own high priority list.
BOTTOM LINE: I can think of no better way to add to the spirit of this season than to reduce and eliminate obligations that, in effect, rob us of our love, joy, hope and peace.
BE more,
Tom
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POWER QUESTIONS:
1. Where am I on autopilot with my obligations?
2. What could I gracefully bow out of this year?
3. What is really important to me that I could spend time on instead?
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