I had a big Aha! recently. As I experienced Christmas Day, I realized that I didn’t need Christmas anymore. I had indeed reached that place of knowing that I truly do keep Christmas in my heart all year long!

Personal growth markers

This was truly a marker of personal growth that has been in process since I was a young child. In my dysfunctional family, I needed Christmas Day with a vengeance. I needed it to make up for all of the stressful, negative emotions in our house the rest of the year. I needed it to show me that there was peace and happiness in the world. I needed it like a balm to soothe my emotional wounds.

Of course, one day filled with such unreasonable expectations inevitably disappointed my young self.

When I was single, in my twenties and thirties, I needed Christmas as an extra special reason to celebrate, to prepare elaborate feasts for my family and friends, so that they could remark on my cooking and hosting skills — so I could stand out.

Personal growth progress

This was a time of personal growth in which I took control of the results of Christmas. Surely that had been the problem with my childhood Christmases — it hadn’t been in my control! I decided on the food, the guests and the gifts. I was gleefully in charge of the festivities at my home. I invested tons of energy in making sure that it lived up to my expectations. And, I did enjoy these celebrations. Of course, I still needed Christmas as a vehicle for giving me something special in my life.

Now as I reach the end of my 40s, I can clearly see the significant progress I have have made emotionally and spiritually in regards to this one significant stumbling block.

A few hours into the day this year I said to my husband, “I don’t need Christmas anymore!” My life is so abundant each day that I no longer need one day to stand out from the rest. I am mindfully aware of my spiritual expression in the world on a daily basis, so Christmas doesn’t need to remind me of my spiritual connection to the divine or to others. I can celebrate the day as an opportunity to give without the emotional greed of needing to get something in return.

Personal growth success!

What freedom! I can let Christmas BE with no attachment to how it unfolds. Now, I can focus on releasing need from the other days of the year and accept their innate perfection as I also accept my own beauty and perfection. Forget holidays and birthdays, now that’s a reason to celebrate.

What Aha! insights have been revealed to you this year? What progress can you celebrate as we ring in the New Year?

Melissa Wadsworth is a potential empowerment coach, inspiration speaker and intuitive dream board expert. Start the year discovering and living your life purpose.