"Peak Season"

Christmas time.  It's a period of time where people spend time with family, friends, and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  Also, it's the time of year where most companies go into the black in profits.

The holidays are the peak season for shopping and gift giving.

 Some people love The Christmas season.  From the songs, to the decorations, and everything in between.  But for others, Christmas time can be a sad and depressing time.  People have lost loved ones and are reminded of their absence around the holidays.  And for others, Christmas can be stressful because of the lack of money to give and get presents that we have become so accustomed to getting around this time of year.

I think this is one of the main reasons Christmas bothers me so much.  So many people are giving out of obligation, tradition, and simply because of the popularity of Christmas in our culture.

Christmas time can be challenging for people who's love language is giving and receiving gifts.  For these people, such as myself, giving is all about the intent, presentation, and timing of the gift.  It's not always about the size or cost of the gift, it's the "thought behind the gift".

This "peak season" also plays an effect on spiritual or personal gifts too.  Because my love language is receiving and giving gifts, it is of greater importance that I give my spiritual gifts to the world.

To not serve the world with my gifts and receive the benefit of other's gifts, feels like I am not loving or being loved.

This is "peak season" to make this world a better place.  Let us take time out during this holiday season to make sure that we are serving the world with our gifts, talents, and abilities.  Your gift is the answer to someone's prayer.  Your talents are a solution to an organization's problem.  Doing what you simply are able to do can make the world a better place.

"Sub-Zero Fear"

Fear.  It can be a paralyzing force strong enough to freeze you in your tracks.  Some have given it the acronyms "false evidence appearing real" or "forget everything and run".  It feels like being frozen by Sub Zero in a Mortal Kombat video game.

You want to move. You want to win.  But this fear has you stuck in a place of stress, doubt, and uncertainty.  What you fear may have come from the memory of what you have gone through in the past, the anxiety of what you have never done, but seldom is it the present.  It's actually hard to fear what's real, because what is real is an experience of the now, not an anticipation of the future or reflection of the past.

What is fear stopping you from doing?  Having a meaningful relationship with a loved one?  Pursuing your dreams and passions?  Or maybe it's healing from a past hurt or painful situation.  Sometimes our fears are simply preventing us from being happy and having daily peace.

I have had my fair share of dealing with having "sub-zero" fear in my personal relationships and in fulfilling my purpose.  The effects of this type of fear are exhausting.  I'm tired of the unnecessary and additional stress in my life.

I sought out how to get unstuck from being frozen by fear in my life.  I researched physical paralysis and how it's treated and managed.  They use heat, massage, and exercise as physical therapy.

What if we used the same therapy for mental paralysis?  Instead of physical therapy, we need mental therapy to overcome our fears.

The first thing in "un-thawing" from being frozen by fear is to expose it.  Think about when you take a piece of meat out of the freezer.  You expose it to a warmer and a different place.  Nothing feels colder than the isolation fear causes.  Admit that you are afraid and what you are afraid of.  This can be done by admitting this to yourself and telling someone else, as an accountability partner or trusted friend.

Also, becoming sort of a minimalist helps too.  Dispose of and get rid of situations and things that causes fear and the effects of fear.  This is different than running from fear.  This has to do with determining what's most important, and only thinking and dealing with those things. 

The bible says that perfect love drives out fear.  Are we doing things out of love or fear?  Doing things out of love warms the heart and gets you going in the right direction. Start doing things and making choices motivated by love instead of fear.

If it's big enough to fear, it's big enough to overcome and do!  The world needs the "unfrozen" You.