Confidence: A Small Miracle in the Midst of Christmas Chaos

Confidence: A Small Miracle Amid the Christmas Chaos 

Ah yes, the pre-Christmas season. Glittering string lights, fragrant cookies, and harmonious family moments. Sounds nice, doesn't it? Reality often feels different: deadlines at work, the gift hunt in crowded stores, and the ambitious goal of planning the "perfect" Christmas celebration. Added to this are the usual challenges in our everyday lives and worries in uncertain times. Welcome to the December marathon. But there is a force that gets us through all this hustle and bustle: confidence.

Confidence? Sounds pretty abstract at first. But actually, it's quite simple: It's that little inner feeling that everything will turn out alright in the end - and that we can do something about it ourselves. How can this strength be reinforced in uncertain and hectic times? With a few tricks that are easier than you think.

The following stories are inspired by real life, but all names are fictional. Perhaps you might see a bit of yourself here and there?

What if everything doesn't go perfectly?  

Once, hand on heart: Who doesn't know those moments when you think everything has to be perfect? Lisa, a marketing manager, had exactly that expectation. Two kids, a full-time job, and then she was also supposed to make the Advent calendar, decorate the house, and plan the festive meal. After two weeks of December, she was completely exhausted. The solution? Letting go. Her husband took over the gift planning, the children made salt dough decorations - and Lisa treated herself to a glass of mulled wine while she "did absolutely nothing." Spoiler: In the end, Christmas was magical anyway. Maybe even more so, because the stress stayed away.

The moral of the story? Not everything has to be perfect. And sometimes, the imperfect is exactly what truly makes us happy.

The small things that make the difference

Sometimes, it's the seemingly insignificant moments that keep us going. Paul, a busy field worker, felt like a hamster on a wheel during the pre-Christmas season. But then he found a small note in his briefcase: "Daddy, will you go sledding with me?" Paul later recounted how this note opened his eyes. Since then, he writes down three things every evening for which he is grateful. It sounds trivial, but somehow it has changed his life. He started focusing more on what was going well—rather than getting lost in the stress. And the best part? The sledding trip actually happened, too.

Train a little confidence in everyday life

The positive thing is: Confidence can be trained at any age because our brain is more flexible than we might think. You may be thinking: I really have enough on my plate and don't need more tasks. At the same time, there are a few small tricks that can be easily integrated into everyday life without major changes.

1. Do less.
   Michael, team leader and Christmas chaos candidate, had what felt like 100 tasks on his desk before Christmas. His solution? A "Must-be-done-now" list and a "Can-wait-until-later" list. And yes, the second list is longer. His conclusion: Less stress, more focus. And in the end, he still got all the important things done.

2. Rejoice in the small successes.
   Sarah, mother of two children and part-time home office heroine, shared how she spontaneously baked cookies with her daughter. Work was put on hold for a moment - but her daughter's laughter saved her entire day. Sometimes it's these tiny moments that remind us we somehow manage everything. Sarah started writing these precious little moments in a notebook. Just noting the small things gave her enormous positive energy from then on.

3. Ask for help and find confidence.
   Martin, an engineer, felt completely overwhelmed because new tasks constantly landed on his desk. Eventually, he spoke confidently with his boss and asked for support. Surprise: The conversation not only led to a clearer distribution of tasks, but Martin also felt less alone afterward. Sometimes, it's enough to simply say, "I need help." Perhaps you already know exactly whom you can turn to now. Often, one person you trust is enough.

4. Take time for yourself.
   Klara has introduced a new ritual: Every afternoon, she takes a short walk without a phone, without emails. These few minutes of fresh air and calm boost her energy and feel like a mini-vacation in the middle of everyday life. She says that afterward, she feels a bit more relaxed each time—and somehow stronger.

5. Imagine the good.
   Anna, an elementary school teacher, felt overwhelmed by the preparations for the school Christmas festival. She consciously took time to imagine the evening of the performance: children singing enthusiastically, parents smiling, and herself being proud of her work. This simple visualization helped calm her nerves and approach the mountain of tasks more calmly. In fact, the performance later went better than she had ever dreamed.

6. Use the influence of movement and posture.
   Tobias, an IT specialist, often felt tense and drained. One day, he tried something new: every time he felt down, he would sit up straight, lift his gaze, and go outside for a few minutes. This small change had a big impact. The upright posture gave him a sense of strength and confidence. Since then, he swears by taking a moment to pause and assume an upright position before difficult meetings—and it works every time.

Confidence is like a small gift 

The beauty of confidence? You can train it. It is not something that simply has to be there or is missing. It grows through the small moments when we realize: "I can do this." And it becomes stronger when we remember that it's okay not to be perfect. After all, it's not about having everything under control but trusting that things will somehow turn out well—and that we can actively shape them. In this spirit: Enjoy the pre-Christmas season. Laugh if the cookies turn black, say "No" to another to-do, and treat yourself to a little time for the things that truly do you good. Confidence doesn't arise in the hustle but in the small pauses in between.

famPLUS wishes you a relaxed and confident Advent season!🎄✨

Reading tips:

• The Power of Confidence (by Dirk Liesemer) in: GEO KOMPAKT No. 25 - 12/10 - Why We Are Good and Evil.

• Courage to Be Optimistic (by Vera Starker & Dr. Katharina Roos), 2024, Remote Publishing

FamPLUS - Competent in Inner Strength.