The holidays can be a time of joy, exuberance, indulgence, and hope, but also a time of exhaustion, sadness, longing, and reflection. In my own life, there have been holiday seasons that have been more joyful than others. Last year, for example, was a difficult holiday season for me because there were changes in my familial situation. This year, I’ve decided to create new traditions to enjoy and so far it’s a mindset and an action that’s been really beneficial. Whereas last year my holiday season was riddled with feelings of anxiety and sadness, this year, I had one of my best Thanksgivings yet.
The reality for a lot of people is that the holidays make sad times even harder. When you’re coping with a loss, the holidays can make that void feel much larger. If you’re going through a hard time, the holidays can amplify your feelings, especially when everyone around you seems so happy and you feel even worse, or maybe guilty, that you’re unhappy. That’s why the phrase “holiday blues” exists. On one hand, there are people gathering to celebrate and on the other, there are people who are lost in their loneliness.
There’s no rule that says you have to be a picture-perfect blissful person during the holidays. If this is a difficult holiday season for you, I encourage you to do a few things to help ease the stress:
Not every holiday season will be a perfectly joyful one and no one says it has to be. The most important thing you can do is listen to yourself and find a way to connect with people. The holidays are personal, not some mold of happiness you have to fit into.
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