EFT is my emotional release technique of choice, mostly because I am a do-it-yourselfer kind of girl. It's easy, inexpensive, and fast. But every once in awhile I can't seem to make the progress I want. Either I can't figure out the root of the emotion, I just plain "don't want to go there", or I need the joint effort of another person to move it along. When that happens, I call my good friend Cristi who is a talented RET technician. Rapid Eye Therapy is another way to release negative emotions and physical symtptoms. Today I asked Cristi to write a guest article about joy in the holidays. Enjoy. Blessings, Dawn


Call me naive, but I take the scripture, "Men are that they might have joy," (2 Ne. 2:25) literally. I think the Lord meant exactly what He said there. I interpret it to mean that there is joy to be found if we are willing to open our eyes and hearts to new thinking and let go of old beliefs and patterns that keep us stuck. And, I believe there is much joy to be felt during the holiday season, even if there's a popular belief that it must be stressful.

Stress is really just a response to an emotion or emotions, and it is felt in accordance to our perceptions, which we interpret and then respond to. We really can choose not to be stressed! I know this to be true because of the journey I've been on myself, and by changing my perceptions, I have changed my stress level immensely. My circumstances haven't necessarily changed, but I have.

I like to remind myself that I have choices, and I have them all the time. I get to choose which traditions to include this time of year, I get to choose which events to attend, I get to choose whether I want to put up just a few decorations or to drag out the whole 15 boxes. As long as I perceive it to be my choice, then I always have the power to choose again. And knowing I can always choose again really helps me relax and calm down, and feel open to emotions of a higher vibration.

I like it, too, that I have tools to help myself and my family when things get to be a little less manageable. I use Rapid Eye Technology as well as EFT, and I try to use them before the negative emotions have been excessively energized. That way we can avoid energizing old patterns and we're more open to the Spirit and feelings of joy and peace.

So this holiday season, I'm choosing joy. And it feels terrific! '

Cristi Fitzgerald
Choose Joy Now!