Struggles During the Holiday Season

This is a magical time of year, filled with so many holidays to celebrate with friends, family, and loved ones.  This often includes many gatherings and parties of celebration. You hear the songs on the radio about how it is “the most wonderful time of the year”.  It is the time of the year for reflection, joy, and hope. But for some people, this can be the most challenging time of the year, bringing higher levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress.

I think it is safe to say that most people feel the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.  Extra things added to your “to do list” coming in from all directions – such as end of the year reports at work, annual gatherings with friends, family get togethers, and more. 

This time of the year can bring up and amplify emotions and feelings that push us into high levels of stress, anxiety and depression. Many people experience this as the holiday blues.

Reasons for the Holiday Blues

There are many trigger points that contribute to the holiday blues, such as:

• Lossed loved ones – The holiday season is a time of reflection, and this often includes remembering those loved ones who have passed away. Remembering happy times, and that they will not be celebrating with you.
• Family dysfunction – This can be the chaos and conflict between certain family members.
• Remembrances of holidays past – Your mood may be impacted consciously or unconsciously by holidays of your past.  It could be happy holidays of your past, and you are longing for those to return. Or traumatic holidays of your past.
• Pressure to feel merry – There is so much about the holidays that is “in our face”.  The displays in grocery stores, and every store you enter. There are holiday movies on several stations.  Christmas cards that arrive in the mail.
• Trying to do too much – Many times we just want the “perfect” holiday.  This can mean cramming in too many get togethers, expectations for yourself and from extended family members, and more.  But what is that really? What does that mean to you?
• Seasonal Affective Disorder – Just as the holiday season approaches, for those of us in northern latitudes we experience a drastic change in weather. The days are colder and darker, and much shorter. Less sunshine may contribute to a change in one’s mood.
• Financial struggles – There can be so much pressure to get the perfect gift for each loved one, or an obligation to do so.  This can bring feelings of guilt and shame when you might not be able to afford to get the gifts you want or know a certain loved one (especially a child) is asking for.
• Loneliness – This is the time of year when if you are alone, it can be “in your face”.  Now I don’t think it’s intentional – but something that can be easily amplified.  If you don’t have close or extended family, just went through a divorce, or are long time single, you can easily compare yourself to others. There are constant reminders of others’ happiness and joy, and this can bring sadness and a loss of hope/despair.

If you are feeling any of these emotions, it’s ok and you are not alone.  Please do not beat yourself up, or feel hopeless. This is a time when it is extremely important to take care of yourself.  To recognize these feelings and emotions, reflect on them, but then most importantly take action steps to overcome.

How to Overcome the Holiday Blues

• Gratitude – Sit down with your favorite tea or hot chocolate and journal what you are grateful for.  Take the time to recognize all the positives in your life. If you struggle with this list, ask a close friend or family member for help to see what you might overlook.  It is so important to recognize the good, and perhaps even makes goals for more good in your life in 2019.

• Do something nice for others – It might sound simple, but it can have such a big impact.  We should always be kind to one another, but especially during this time of the year…recognize that others might be struggling, and a smile or compliment can make a world of difference.  Contribute to a giving tree – it’s a great time to meet new people and make new connections by volunteering and bringing hope to those who may not be as fortunate as you.

• You don’t have to do it all – Take the time to prioritize what is important for you during the holiday season. Set healthy boundaries and surround yourself with positive people.

• New year, new you – Take the time to reflect on this year, recognize your accomplishments, and give yourself praise! Also recognize where you might have some sadness or disappointment…this is not meant to dwell on it, but  what you would like to do more of or differently in 2019. Create your vision and dreams for 2019.
• Self Care – During this season of hustle and bustle it is so valuable to take care of yourself. This can be done by setting aside time for just you, taking care of your body by exercising. Don’t stop doing your self care routines that you have already been doing – such as exercise, meditation, yoga.
  
  

When reflecting on the year, or feeling sadness or hopelessness – whatever feelings might be coming up – it is important to take action steps to take care of you.

A Light in the Darkness

The truth is that no matter what is going on outside of ourselves, we have within each of us, an infinite sea of love. We have the ability to heal and let go of the pain. Your natural state is one of joy! During this dark time of year, we can reach within ourselves to bring forth our own inner light. To bring our light into the darkness and illuminate a potential for greater joy and love.

If you are feeling disconnected from your light, lost or hopeless, I recommend gifting yourself a Life Activation.  This healing session will awaken your divinity within, and strengthen your connection with your Higher Self.  It will help you to hold more light (positive energy) and can bring more clarity, more energy, help you to release negative patterns, and so much more.

The Life Activation session comes from an ancient lineage tradition of healing and empowerment. This tool has been used for thousands of years to bring light into the spiritual DNA and support individuals on a path of greater healing and empowerment.

If you are feeling like your energy is being pulled in many directions, or that you’ve picked up negative energy from other people or your environment,  I would recommend the Cord Cutting. This healing will assist you by removing negative emotional cords that form when we are emotionally triggered by other people. This can be done as a full energy clearing session to clear any negative energy that is affecting you mentally or emotionally.

If you are ready to embark on a new path of deeper understanding of your Self and your world, I recommend the Empower Thyself Class & Initiation.  This 2-day program is an ancient process of handing down teachings and tools of empowerment, opening doors to important questions such as Who am I, and why am I here.  It is a foundation to further understanding of self, and an accelerated path of healing and self mastery.

From my heart to yours, I am wishing you joy, love and peace this holiday season.

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