Many people struggle with holiday depression.
With all the responsibilities and social pressures, It can bring about stress instead of joy.
It means many people will be sad for Christmas.
These times put extra strain on relationships too.
Creating inner stability can help navigate rocky times.
Let’s discuss some ways to help with the holiday blues.
How to ease holiday depression
Be mindful of the expectations we’re upholding.
A lot of time, holiday stress can come from all the things we THINK we need to be doing instead of what needs to get done.
Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves?
Gift buying, decorations, travel, cooking, family, community events, school activities, etc… It’s no wonder we’re stressed out!
If you feel the heaviness of pressure, assess your expectations.
Let’s remember the holidays are about being together with the people we care about, not the stuff we give them. Especially as we get older. Gifts from the heart are what matter. We warm our homes with the love and care we share with those around us.
Being thankful for the blessings we do have.
Enjoy the small moments we get on Earth. Material things fade in time, but the memories we share are what we take with us beyond this world.
Experience the richness of each moment. Don’t allow the dark allure of holiday depression to pull you in.
Let the pressure of the holidays melt away as we count our blessings. Taking inventory is a powerful way to remind ourselves of what’s good in our life.
Write out all the things we’re thankful for.
The more detailed and specific, the better.
It’s easy to lose focus on all the blessings in our life when we’re caught up in grind mode, especially around the holidays.
This exercise allows us to slow down and reflect.
You’ll be surprised by everything we have to be thankful for.
Comparison is the death blow to our joy.
Appreciate what we have and leave the rest for another time.
With social media and all the ways people can share content these days, it’s easy to get lost comparing our lives to those of others. Doing so is a fast track to feeling lousy about ourselves.
We can relieve the pressure of the holiday blues by being mindful of our tendency to compare our lives to others. Including our family members.
Never forget so much of what we see on social media isn’t real and is greatly exaggerated. Nor do we see the hard days with all the darkness and depression. It’s something all of us deal with from time to time. Don’t let others mislead you into believing they don’t suffer too.
Family Struggles
Family can be one of the most complex aspects of the holidays.
If you have a demanding family, these times often bring hardships.
Many families create stress at the holidays. Being sad on Christmas is something many experience because of this.
We don’t get to choose the families we have, but we can choose how we respond and live. We have personal autonomy over our choices.
Regardless of how much depression Christmas may bring, we can make daily changes to help counter these tendencies.
Lead by example
Leading by example is the best way to teach and show others a new way of operating.
We can’t make anyone change, but we can show them a different way.
Leading by example ensures we’re doing what we can to make an impact and gives our family members a chance to learn.
If they’re stuck in their ways, do your best to let it go.
Not everyone will accompany us on our journey of excellence, and that’s okay.
We can’t save people.
Letting go of our desire to save others can go a long way in our development and personal fulfillment.
Finding the things that help activate our joy are helpful too.
Just because others may be unhappy doesn’t mean we must do the same.
If we’re unhappy with the way our family is and the nature of the holidays, we can set out to build new traditions.
As adults, we have the power to create and build; this applies to families too.
Overcome Holiday Depression
Break the cycle and start something more nourishing and loving.
No matter how harsh the circumstances, we have the power to triumph.
If you find yourself in a tough spot today, remember the future isn’t set.
We can improve our lives if we’re willing to commit ourselves to the path.
Our suffering today could be the thing that propels a better future for our life tomorrow.
Learning to nurture and care for ourselves can take us a long way.
The moment’s pain can lead us to the gift of self-parenting, which can be life-changing.
Does anyone relate to this?
Are the holidays hard, or do they bring joy to your life?
You’re not alone either way!
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays, everyone!
Originally tweeted by Brandon Ward 🇺🇲 (@BrandonLeeWard) on December 19, 2022.
