What do you want for Christmas?  I’m on the lookout for some stubborn optimism

The situation keeps changing.

Naturally, so too do the rules, and it’s hard to keep up.

My Christmas plans have changed five times in the last few weeks.

We’re not in control of what happens, and it’s full of disappointment, frustration and helplessness.

The spread of Covid reminds me of how easy it is to fall into a powerless mindset. There is so much that you can’t control right now.

Last time I spoke to you about searching for the hero inside yourself. Today, I want to invite you to spot the light as well as the shadows.

We are, of course, not completely helpless. There is a lot you can do too.

Viktor Frankl, holocaust survivor and author of ‘Man’s search for meaning’, reminds us that you can always choose no matter how adverse your situation. You can lose everything, yet you will still retain one final human freedom; to choose one’s attitude.

This Christmas, I’m choosing stubborn optimism. I appropriated this idea from Christiana Figueres, the Paris Agreement’s key architect and author of ‘The Future We Choose’. She chooses unwavering optimism not about the outcome of climate change, but for the INPUT to any challenge.

We need clear and powerful visions of what we want from life; even if that is how you want today to be. ‘Life’ needn’t be this idealistic thing that only exists just around the corner. It is here and now. You merely need to choose how you want to be in this moment.

Take care of yourself this Christmas. Enjoy, appreciate and look for the fun and beauty in what is here.

See you soon.

Jim