5 Questions to Guide You Toward Peace, Presence, and Purpose
The holidays are here again. From Thanksgiving through the New Year, life often accelerates into full-speed chaos — events to attend, meals to prepare, gifts to buy, finances stretched thin, and schedules overflowing. 🎁
All in an effort to “celebrate,” we pile more onto an already full life.
And if we’re honest, this season can leave us feeling overwhelmed, pressured, tired, and distracted. 😰 We move so quickly through moments meant to bring peace and joy that we barely experience them at all. Many of us simply survive the holidays, only to feel a wave of disappointment when it’s over — and the leftover bills waiting to be paid don’t help. 💸
But what if this year could be different?
If your heart longs for a season marked by peace, connection, and purpose rather than pressure and exhaustion, I’d love to invite you to walk with me through five simple questions I am asking myself. These will help us savor what matters most:
✨ Meaningful connection with loved ones
✨ Serving others with joy
✨ Shining Christ’s light in every moment
✨ Staying fully present and peaceful through it all
1️⃣ Why do I celebrate this season?
Starting with the end in mind helps anchor your heart in truth. Remembering why we celebrate will protect your priorities when cultural pressures have you running at an unsustainable pace. This question reframes your mindset and helps you set a meaningful goal for the season. 🕊
2️⃣ What do I want my Christmas and New Year to look like?
Think about the preparation, the actual celebrations, and even the days after.
• How do I want to feel? 💖
• What do I want to experience? ✨
• Who do I want to bless? 🎁
• What will matter most when the season has passed? 📝
Here are my own personal goals for this season:
🎄 Savor time with loved ones and cultivate meaningful connections.
💌 Serve others in love — both those in need and those closest to me.
🌟 Shine Christ’s light wherever I go
🕊 Stay fully present and peaceful in each moment
3️⃣ What is currently on my plate?
Look honestly at your to-do list, your plans, events, and activities. ✅
Reevaluate everything through the lens of the goals you set.
If it doesn’t support a life-giving season, it’s not necessary. Remove it without guilt. ✂️
4️⃣ Am I doing this out of obligation, expectations, or pressure?
Check your motives. 🤔
Am I doing something because I feel I should, or because it aligns with my purpose for this season?
This single question can relieve tremendous pressure. Let go of traditions, opinions, or activities that no longer serve your family, your heart, or the message you want your life to reflect. 💖
5️⃣ How can I simplify?
Simplifying is not failing — it’s stewarding your time and energy well.
Consider questions like:
• What can I delegate or share? (Cooking, shopping, serving) 🍽
• Can our family draw names for gifts to ease the financial strain on everyone? 🎁
• Could we give experiences as gifts instead of things that are forgotten in a few months? 🎟
• Where can I leave space for rest, reflection, and refilling? 🛋
And don’t forget joy-giving activities that refill your soul: crafting, baking, writing encouraging notes, visiting neighbors. When you pour out from a replenished heart, you can be fully present in every moment of this season. ✨
If you want help working through these questions personally, or guiding your family through them, I’d love to support you. Just reach out — you don’t have to navigate this season alone. 💌. Praying your season is full of peace, presence, and purpose.
If you found this helpful, pass it on to a friend; you might be the one who makes their season a bit more joy-filled.
With joy and purpose,
Luisel Lawler
Pathway to Purpose