{A Christmas Carol} The Ghost of Christmas Present

A few weeks ago, over coffee Susan and I were discussing creative ideas for our blogs. “I’m thinking of doing a theme for the month of December,” she told me, “something from The Christmas Carol; like the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future.”

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” is one of my favorite stories. I kept thinking about how appropriate her theme was for this month in the coaching world. She inadvertently stated exactly what it is about the holidays that leaves so many of my clients feeling anxious and emotionally strung-out: the issues of the past, the uncertainty of the future and in the midst of this, the struggle to stay grounded in the present.

Where in your life do you play the role of Tiny Tim? Where in your life do you feel like Bob Cratchit? Where in your life may you be playing the part of Scrooge?

Answering these questions can lead to a profound revelation about the many roles each and every one of us play in life. Most of us like to think of people, and ourselves, in black and white terms. It’s interesting when you begin to realize that all of us encompass the innocence, pure heart and love of Tiny Tim; the humility and devotion of Bob and also the miserliness of Scrooge.

Identifying the multi-faceted aspects of ourselves helps us get clear on who it is we’d like to be and what it is we want to create. Identifying the multi-faceted aspects of others can lead to a more balanced and compassionate perspective. Try answering these questions honestly and see what happens.

This month, I’d also like you to face some of the Ghosts of your Past. I’d also like you to think of what you’d like your future to hold. But most importantly, I’ like you to remember that no matter what, the present is the place where we are now. Happy Holidays.

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Gabrielle Gujjari is a newlywed who successfully survived planning her wedding. She is also a certified professional life coach who specializes in relationships and women’s issues. You can visit her blog here.

Tagged as: holidays, relationships