This morning my life was a series of interruptions interrupted by interruptions. I suspect that during this holiday season, yours may be that way also.

My nicest interruption was to share the first night of Hanukkah with my daughter’s family in Paris while I was still in my jammies here in Colorado. Skype is truly a miracle that adds wonderful things to my life.

But back to the interruptions… We’re suddenly at the end of the year enjoying the pleasures and pressures of the holiday season. These pressures make me much more vulnerable to rediscovering my own hot buttons.

Have you found yours? You know, the things that drive you back into the feeling you hoped you were done with forever.

A couple of days ago I found myself obsessing about what to give someone. A few minutes later I was worrying about whether I dared to invite a professional friend to my home when hers is so much more creatively decorated than mine. I confessed this to a friend over coffee.

My good friend, a partner in a prestigious law firm, admitted that she too occasionally falls into comparing herself to others and wondering what people will think of her.

We’re both very accomplished women and yet if you take us away from our familiar routines, we feel like we’re back in high school trying to please everyone in sight. And high school was a long, long time ago for me. We laughed together about our vulnerability.

I’ve had a couple of men thrown off center this week — mostly about expecting and fearing that they would get into trouble by not pleasing their wives. One was running around doing everything he could think of. The other was paralyzed into doing absolutely nothing. Both knew better, but were reacting to holiday pressures.

So whatever your hot button is, end of the year stress may make you vulnerable to it. I don’t think you can prevent your hot button from being activated, but you can choose what to do when it happens. I recommend noticing it and relaxing.

Admit that you’re human, take a few deep breaths, and try to push the reset button. If that doesn’t work, just don’t get too caught up in replaying old emotions. Refocus on the things that bring you joy and move on to whatever is next.

Here’s a delightful inspirational 5 minute YouTube link that I enjoyed. I hope you do too. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us-TVg40ExM

Have a wonderful holiday season.

Warmly,

Laurie

PS I’ve finally been learning about social networking. I’m finding old and new friends on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

http://twitter.com/LaurieWeiss

http://www.linkedin.com/in/laurieweiss

Facebook: http://profile.to/laurieweiss/