CHRISTMAS: Of Psychological safety and hope selling come January 2016

 

Author Reference

Benard, L. (2015): CHRISTMAS: Of Psychological safety and hope selling come January 2016. Intel Fire Group of Companies Blog. Nairobi, Kenya.

As the year draws closer to end, it is paramount that the word celebration is synonymous with the last month of the year. Many activities take place from graduations, marriage ceremonies and worships to burials, accidents, terror activities, and many other unfortunate incidences. However, the most unfortunate event of the month, statistically proven, would be the sale of “hope” packaged in very unique uncharacteristic way to attract the targeted audience. This hope is not about the gift of God for humanity but one that will surely bring psychological mayhem come January 2016 if not checked. This hope is what this author has just defined and now candidly packaged as hope on sale. In many instances, and especially the Kenyan environment, this hope is being sold in form of electronic goods, trips and safaris, and finally monetary rewards.

It is in no doubt that the month of December in any year for Christians is the month for celebrations. To some it is also the month you have an opportunity to buy items at their lowest rates and also certainly the “month for this author to write this kind of article albeit in un-celebratory mood”. So the biggest phones stores in the country have launched an open-day and discounted prices ranging from laptops to the tiniest in form of earpieces are an open secret. On the other hand the major players in the broadcast media industry have also launched the same campaign but the only difference is the element of modern gambling employed as you can only win the latest iPhone by sending text message to some code number not once and not twice but as many times as you can answering common silly questions that have no meaning to your hope of winning. What the major phone companies and broadcast media industries are selling is what is referred here as the mass media hope sale. It is the hope of both parties that the other is psychologically tuned to the mood of Christmas. The seller then banks of how hopeful the buyer would want to hear encouraging Christmas words like discounted prices, winning gifts every week, and even buy one get two free. It should be noted that celebration through buying gifts in hope of satisfying loved ones is fulfilling but in the same breath this should be done while focusing on the knowledge that the Christmas period only last about two weeks and then the New Year reins with new priorities and immediate demands like school fees, transport back to where you came from for the celebration, loans to be paid, and many more psychological torture triggers.

So you planned for the holiday and supposedly arranged and booked for a trip to a get-away-island, to your ancestral home, or even to a neighboring country is not in doubt. What is in doubt is the satisfaction this will bring come January 2016 and if your source of income is assured then certainly this article is misplaced. You will not fail to notice the many packaged trips and safaris to your national parks and game reserves and even just families coming together to visit other families in the spirit of togetherness. But this becomes a nightmare, especially for family heads if it was not planned and suddenly you are psyched by triggers coming from your family members, your neighbors who are openly advertising they planned trips, or even your relatives giving ultimatums for your visit. This suddenly changes into hunting for the best package for a trip and your aim is not only cost but utmost psychological well-being come January.

Taking a break to reward yourself for working hard over the year is advised by most psychologists and even the hope sellers alike. The difference is that if you fail to plan for your holidays at the start of the year, then, and again if your reading this article, you are not sure where heading to or what you will be doing during this period and apparently from looking at your bank and cash statement, you are certainly broke. A holiday is a project that has both start time and end time coupled with activities you must undertake to ensure its achievement. Going to holiday due to your friends’ or neighbors’ mob psychology is a recipe for disasters come January. BE SIMPLE AND SAFE THIS CHRISTMAS AND LIVE YOUR LIFE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO PROVE ANYTHING TO ANYONE. GOD BLESS ALL MY READERS.

 

The writer is a PhD Generalist in Public Safety Service Delivery