1 Get prepared for the season by turning your mind towards kindness and compassion. There is a noted human trend towards being good at making allowances and understanding our own faults. Yet we tend to be severe and judgmental about the failings of other people. So we excuse things that we haven't got round to doing by saying how incredibly busy and stressed we are. Then we label other people useless and incompetent for failing to do what they said they would. This is not goodwill. It is not even fair. Usually.
2 Think about those things that are the opposite of goodwill. Try to weed out cynicism and negative thoughts. Eliminate nasty, suspicious attitudes.
Trust people more. Of course, you don't want to be exploited by bosses or taken for a mug by young people. You have a right to put your foot down if this happens. But don't start out with the assumption that it will. This will make you a nicer person. It can also relieve the stress you experience, since you are no longer expecting to encounter trouble round every corner.
3 Make a list of all those people and things you feel ill will towards.
If it is mainly people from management, pointless paperwork, ridiculous record keeping, complaining neighbours and trouble-making newspaper editors, reassure yourself that this is normal. If it is mainly names of young people, accept that this is not a good sign. Consider requesting a training course. Or become a teacher. Just joking.
4 Goodwill has a specific meaning in business. The goodwill a company has is the value of its reputation over and above its tangible assets such as money, premises, goods and equipment. Although it is hard to define, goodwill is very important. It is particularly important in youth work, since youth work tends not to have much in the way of tangible assets anyway. Think of ways to maximise this. Improve your project's reputation among young people and the local community and you thereby increase its goodwill and its value. This can become a virtuous circle.
5 Remember that pressure to be cheerful can have the opposite effect.
A feeling that young people should be having a fantastic time at Christmas and New Year can leave some feeling inadequate. Loneliness is a major problem at this time of year, not just for the elderly. You don't need to dwell on this. But don't forget it either. Appreciate what might be happening in other people's lives.
6 Think of a Christmas joke. Tell it to people. Make them laugh. Remember that the best advice for surviving Christmas and the New Year is the warning that used to be printed on bottles of methylated spirits: "Don't drink. Keep away from children."
