"’Tis the season to be jolly!"
"It’s the most wonderful time of the year!"
"Peace on Earth, good will toward men!"

All of these sayings reflect the Christmas holiday season. In our business we could also add, "It’s the biggest sales week of the year," because statistically, we move more metal between Christmas and New Year’s Day than during any other week. And that should cause “visions of sugar plums” to dance in our heads!

But the reality is that this season can also cause tremendous stress and pressure. Time, money, and relationships come under fire as unexpected sales forecasts or unanticipated events occur. Things don’t always go exactly as planned and we are sometimes left wondering "what happened" or "what will I do now?”

So what do you do when things don’t appear to be going well? How do you cope with the unexpected? Where do you concentrate your focus?

An ancient letter, written to a group of people whose lives had gotten off the track, made it clear that there were three things that would always be there to get people through challenging times. These three things were faith, hope and love.

Faith is the evidence of things unseen. We can’t see the wind, but we can see the effects of it. Most days are not windy. But the boat builder continues to build sail boats even on the calmest of days. He knows that there will be windy days, because there have always been windy days. What unseen evidence tells you that things will change in our business? Look for it and hold on to it. Don’t stop building your business, just because the wind has died down. It’s temporary!

Hope is a lot like goals. It is a vision you see based on what, or possibly in whom, you believe. Most people have someone or something in their lives that encourages them to focus positively on the future. If you don’t, then take the first step by opening your eyes and ears. Look for and listen to the sights and sounds. Sit quietly and imagine the possibilities. Where could you go? What could you become? There is no limit to hope!

In the letter, the author said that love was the greatest of all. I believe that is because love is the most outward focused of the three. Love requires action. Love is about giving and not getting. The reason this is so powerful is because when we are down, looking to others in need and giving of ourselves and our resources actually works to build us up and encourage our spirit. Love is about connecting with others and it defines the reason for the season.

Are you discouraged? Has something unexpected happened to you this holiday season? Has it made you angry or depressed? Take charge of those emotions and feelings:

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.