Christmas is traditionally a magical time of year, when family and friends get together to enjoy each other's company, exchange gifts and enjoy good food and drink. Happy, jolly, merry and joy are all words associated with the festive season. So why is it that a Google search on Stress and Christmas brings up 9 million results, all giving advice and sympathy about the stresses and tensions created at this time of year? Christmas has become a stressful event for a lot of people and it's not surprising when you look at what can be involved. A typical festive season may include one or more of the following:

- Overspending resulting in overdrawn bank accounts and credit card debt

- The temptation of food and drink when on a diet or healthy eating plan

- Tensions about which family members to see and when over Christmas

- Driving long distances to see family

- Not being able to afford the 'must have' toys that our children want

- Worry about having to produce a magnificent Christmas lunch for a large group

- Dreading the expected arguments and tensions that seem inevitable

- Only having limited time off work with so much to do

You probably also have your own worries, tensions and anxieties that you can add to this list. So how can EFT help you through this festive minefield?

Before Christmastime, and the associated stresses, get into full swing set some time aside to work on your worries with EFT. Think of it as another essential Christmas task to do, just like writing your cards. Start with the most obvious, stressful event in your Christmas and apply EFT on that until you feel less intense about it. This may be:

"Even though I feel guilty that I don't spend Christmas with my parents I deeply and completely accept myself"
or "Even though I'm going to be tempted by the desserts and chocolate and my diet will be ruined . ."
or "Even though I dread the arguments with my children over the TV that will spoil Christmas . ."

As well as tapping on what you are currently dreading or expecting to happen during this year's Christmas, it is also useful to tap on any stressful past Christmases you have had to eliminate the associations you may still hold to them. As well as the usual arguments and anxieties listed above, there may have been a Christmas where a loved one passed away, or a relationship broke up and these associations can make the festive season become a time that you dread each year. By unlocking the connection to grief or loss with EFT you may be able to clear some of the clouds away so that you can see what Christmas is truly about once again.

We all have the potential to have a truly happy Christmas but as the years pass by we can learn to associate Christmas with all the negatives rather than the positives in life. Once you have tapped on all your personal Christmas negatives I recommend that you to do another round of EFT like this:

Tapping on the KC point: "Even though I have had past Christmases that I haven't enjoyed, that have been stressful, upsetting and sad, it's now time to expect a truly happy Christmas where I can enjoy every moment, and I deeply and completely accept myself".

Eyebrow: "I now choose to have a wonderful Christmas"

Side of eye: "I look forward to spending time with the ones I love"

Under eye: "I enjoy giving and receiving gifts whatever their cost"

Under nose: "I take pride in catering for my guests to the best of my ability"

Chin: "I will feel happy that I am making as much time as I am able to be with my family"

Collarbone: "I leave past stresses and tensions behind.."

Under arm: ".. and I now choose to have a truly magical, wonderful Christmas!"

If you dedicate as much time to some pre-Christmas EFT as you do to decorating the tree or wrapping gifts, I am sure that you will reap some rewards and enjoy one of your best Christmases yet.