Operation Affirmation
by Carrie Myers Smith

Do you dread the holidays? When you envision them, do you get chills up and down your spine? Do you come out of the season totally stressed out and exhausted? By changing your focus, you can turn this time of the year from “Bah-Humbug” to “Fa-la-la-la.” Let’s take a look at just some of the reasons you have to celebrate this season—and how you can put genuine joy back into the holiday season.

Your health. No matter what state of health you’re in, you have some health, so celebrate it! Consider all the diseases you don’t have and be thankful for the health you do. If you’re going through health issues, think about all the lessons you’ve learned and the wonderful things that have taken place as a result of them. 

Your body. It doesn’t matter what shape you’re in, what size you wear, or what you weigh. You have a body! And that body proves that you are a living, breathing human being, full of worth. 

Your relationships. Who in your life are you thankful for? The holiday season is the perfect time to celebrate these relationships. After all, Christmas celebrates the most holy relationship—that between man and God. 

Your purpose. Everyone has a reason for being here—even you! If you don’t know your purpose yet, start thinking about what your passions are. What really turns you on and excites you? If you do know your purpose, well, then you have no reason not to celebrate!

No matter what stage you are in the journey of life, there is always something to celebrate. The key is to change your focus. To borrow from a cliché, see the glass as half full, not half empty. Like troops going into battle, embark on your own Operation Affirmation and begin seeing your life and the world around you through a new paradigm. Viewing the positive part of any situation has a way of lifting stress and inducing smiles. Once you smile, a laugh can't be far behind, right? And laughter has been shown to have many positive effects on the body. A recent study, for instance, showed that laughter can help protect against a heart attack. Maybe laughter really is the best medicine after all. A good belly laugh not only works those abdominal muscles, it also allows health-enhancing hormones to be released.

Do you tend to focus on the negative? If so, it’s time to change your point of view—for your own health, but also for those around you. What an awesome gift to offer them this holiday season!

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Carrie Myers Smith, a certified personal trainer, speaker and licensed wellness coach, owns Women In Wellness, a free wellness club. Her work has appeared in many national magazines and her first book, "Squeezing Your Size 14 Self into a Size 6 World: A Real Woman’s Guide to Food, Fitness, and Self-Acceptance," is an award-winning book helping women change their minds about their bodies. Carrie lives in the White Mountains of New Hampshire with her husband and four sons.