OVER 347 days have passed since the beginning of the year and during that time, so many jobs, friendships, business deals and unfortunately, lives have been lost. Countless moments have unfolded that can leave us bitter, confused or deeply saddened.
Yet in that same span of time, there were weddings, successful company launches, graduations, reconciliations and the birth of new babies.
These contrasting experiences remind us that life is lived in seasons. While some are grieving, others are laughing.
While one door closes for someone, another is opening for another. Life flows in cycles, some good, others not so good, but all meaningful in the grand scheme of who we are becoming.
As we navigate these seasons, our emotions don’t always remain neatly contained.
Appearing as unexplained anger, frustration, irritability or even emotional withdrawal, they may spill over in ways we don’t always understand or expect.
That is why practising emotional regulation and compassion is not optional; it is essential.
We must learn to treat others with kindness, because people are standing at different chapters of their lives, fighting battles we cannot see.
Fear, insecurity and shame often stand in the way of love. They cloud our judgement and narrow our perspective. But everyday presents us with a choice: we either choose love or we unconsciously promote fear.
We cannot control the external environment, which is, for example, the economy, global conflicts, accidents or unexpected changes, but we can control how we respond to them. We can shift from selfish wants to compassionate needs. We can be intentional about our actions. We can reflect on our belief systems and actively transform the ones that no longer serve us. Love is the highest expression of this transformation.
Myles Munroe once said, “The greatest act of leadership is love.”
And perhaps this is what the world is craving most desperately right now, leadership through love.
A traffic accident that involves only two vehicles can slow down the flow of an entire highway for miles. Unhealed trauma does the same in our lives. A wound we never address can affect our relationships, decisions and opportunities. Don’t allow unhealed pain to block your blessing or delay your destiny.
Below are five steps to embrace love during the festive season:
Practise presence, not perfection
During the holiday season, many people carry invisible burdens such as loneliness, financial strain, past disappointments or grief. Instead of striving to make everything perfect, slow down and be present. Listen attentively, offer a warm smile, check on people and be emotionally available. Presence is one of the purest forms of love.
Give without keeping score
Love is not transactional. The festive season is the perfect time to give generously not only material gifts, but encouragement, time, forgiveness and empathy. Give from the heart, without expecting anything in return. Genuine giving softens the heart and expands our capacity to love.
Extend grace to yourself and others
People make mistakes, tensions rise, old wounds resurface, and misunderstandings happen, –––especially during emotionally heightened seasons. Choose grace. Extend the kind of patience and understanding you would want extended to you. Grace transforms interactions and opens doors for healing.
Choose connection over isolation
Love thrives in connection. Reach out to the friend you lost touch with. Call a family member. Start a meaningful conversation.
Sit with someone who feels alone. Even a simple message can reaffirm someone’s value. Connection is the antidote to emotional distance.
Lead with love in every decision
Before reacting this season, pause and ask: “What would love do?” Would it speak calmly? Would it forgive? Would it offer understanding instead of judgement? Would it choose peace over pride? Let love be the motivator behind your actions, words and attitudes. When love leads, everything else aligns.
In the end, love is not merely an emotion; it is a decision, a discipline and a daily commitment. As this year draws to a close and the festive season unfolds, we are reminded that life will always move in cycles of joy and sorrow, gain and loss, laughter and tears. But through it all, the constant that anchors us is love.
When we choose love, in our words, in our actions, and in our intentions, we become the light that helps others to find their way. We heal ourselves, we uplift those around us and we create a ripple of goodness that extends far beyond the moment.
So as you step into this season, embrace love boldly. Let it guide your behaviour, soften your heart and shape your relationships. And remember: the greatest blessings often flow to those who make room for love to lead.