A recent report by InfoTrak indicated that 67 per cent of Kenyans made no plans for Christmas last year.
Most people alleged that their pockets had gone beyond zero in the purchase barometer. But what does this mean?
The festive season did not make sense to them and only interfered with their comfort zones.
Those not subscribing to the Christian faith became the greatest beneficiaries by making it an economic opportunity.
People without plans only watched as others celebrated, becoming mere spectators in a global spectacle.
The 67 per cent segment were in denial of a global festivity and tried to silence the commotion emanating from the carnival atmosphere.
Living in denial is emotionally draining and makes you a pretender who ignores the truth.
These members of our society thought that celebrations are for the better endowed and hold the view that you must have money to enjoy life.
They attributed all their problems to money yet they never had enough.
They worked so hard for the money but money has never worked for them.
The unstoppable Christmas happens whether you are prepared or not.
Without being extravagant, everybody should partake in a slice of the celebrations proportionate to their economic bracket.
This is not a harsh verdict on those who never celebrated nor an effort to downplay the diminished purchasing power in the country.
It is an attempt to peel the onion of reality to seek affordable alternatives for managing a consumerism euphoria.
A renowned psychologist, Sonja Lyubomirsky once said, happiness is not out there for us to find. The reason that it’s not out there is that it is inside us.
For the newly inaugurated year, you can do the following to create cheerfulness throughout.
Face the reality and take a step towards a business you fancy, an adventure you admire or upgrade a skill. Avoid living in denial and face the truth which leads to a solution, an alternative or a new idea.
If you are a student, face your weak subjects and sustain strong scores while dealing with any problematic behaviour. If you are a farmer till the land, a worker should be diligent while leaders should stick to ethics.
Have a plan to navigate the year, getting prepared should be a continuous endeavour.
Curve your niche, you can conquer this world’s challenges by establishing something you can do with a unique finish and make it your exclusive selling point.
Keep perfecting it to a level where it cannot be replicated and create copyright to rake income.
Become a catalyst that makes life happen. Instead of waiting for the next breaking news, a big joke, meme, song or story you too can become the source.
Our country has so much content that can be exploited to make you rich and famous.
In conclusion, create festive moments within the year to reflect on your milestones and get the psyche to leap forward. Start planning for 2022 Christmas now.
The writer is a psychological counsellor and a motivational speaker
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
