Christmas Through a Coaching Lens

 

As many others are doing, I’m taking a break for two weeks over the holiday period to reflect, rest and replenish.

This time of year seems to provide us with a natural pause – to take stock as well as to celebrate our successes, recalibrate where we are and reconnect with the things that matter most to us.

While Christmas can be a joyful season, it can also present many challenges- frazzled relationships, increased demands on our time and sometimes a nagging sense that we’re not quite measuring up — to others’ expectations, to our own lofty standards, or simply to the image of the “perfect Christmas” that we see in every TV and social media advert.

But what if we approached this season through a coaching lens instead?

Here are 5 ways to use a coaching lens this festive season.

1. Pause and Reflect: What’s the Story You’re Telling Yourself

In coaching, we help people explore their internal narratives, the stories they’re telling themselves.

The festive period is fertile ground for these stories, some of which can be limiting:

• “I need to make this Christmas perfect.”
• “I have to get everything right for everyone else.”
• “I should feel joyful, even when I’m overwhelmed.”

These stories can easily drain the joy from the season.

This Christmas, try pausing to ask yourself:

What’s the story I’m telling myself about this holiday?

Is it serving me, or could I rewrite it?

Awareness is the first step toward change.

What if your story became:

“I choose to create moments of joy where I can”

or “I give myself permission to celebrate in a way that feels right for me”?

By shifting the narrative, you give yourself space to experience the season authentically.

2. Give the Gift of Presence

In the rush to find the perfect presents, we sometimes forget the power of presence.

One of the greatest gifts you can offer — to your family, your colleagues, your friends — is the kind of presence that coaching develops.

Presence means being in the moment and truly listening, with curiosity and without judgment, rather than jumping in with your opinion or rushing it because you are mentally ticking off tasks that you still have to do.

This Christmas, try bringing a coaching mindset to your conversations:

• Listen actively to understand first, before replying.
• Stay curious and sk open-ended questions that invite people to share more.
• Be fully present with the person – put down your phone, slow down and let the moment unfold.

You might be surprised by how much more connected you feel when you’re truly present.

3. Reflect on Your Year: What’s Worth Celebrating?

As a coach I encourage my to acknowledge their successes — big and small.

The end of the year is a natural time for reflection.

• What milestones did you achieve this year?
• What challenges did you navigate?
• What moments made you proud?

Even if this year hasn’t gone as planned, there’s always growth to acknowledge.

Taking time to celebrate your progress, compared to where you were at the beginning of the year, can shift your mindset from “not enough” to “more than enough.”

Try this simple exercise:

• List three things you achieved this year that you’re proud of.
• List three challenges you overcame or learned from.
• Reflect on one way you surprised yourself this year.

This practice of acknowledgment and celebration is powerful for your continued personal and professional growth.

4. Revisit Your Values: What Matters Most This Season?

In coaching it is often useful to think about values. These are the things that are most important to us, that drive our motivation.

When life gets hectic and we feel frazzled we can lose sight of what truly matters to us. Christmas is a perfect time to revisit your values and ask yourself:

• What’s truly important to me during this season?
• What can I let go of because it doesn’t really matter?
• How can I align my actions with those values?

Perhaps your values are about connection, simplicity, generosity, or self-care.

Once you’ve identified them, let them guide your choices.

If simplicity is a value, give yourself permission to scale back on the excess.

If connection is key, prioritise time with those who energise and uplift you.

5. Set an Intention for the New Year

As we move toward the new year, consider setting an intention rather than a rigid resolution. Coaching is about intentionality — making conscious choices rather than falling into default patterns.

Rather than focusing on what is wrong or what needs fixing….

Ask yourself these questions

• What do I want more of in my life?
• How do I want to grow?

Whether it’s more balance, more courage, or more joy, let that intention guide you as you step into 2025.

A Season of Coaching and Kindness

Ultimately, Christmas can be a time of deep personal reflection and connection.

By approaching it with a coaching mindset, you’re not only giving yourself the gift of self-awareness, presence, and growth — you’re also sharing that with those around you.

Here’s to a season of meaningful moments, authentic connections, and the kind of joy that comes from living true to yourself.

Happy Christmas!

until next time.

Best wishes

Cath

P.S.