The holidays are a time of bright lights, celebration parties, joy, and connection. But, the holidays can also be a time of stress, disappointment, and demanding expectations. If you are looking to feel more authentic and empowered during this holiday season, check out these five new ways to feel more authentically alive and filled with spirit.
Be Yourself
Traditions are wonderful! But it’s also easy to lose yourself under the stress of trying to recreate the holidays exactly the same way your family of origin once did. Before engaging in any holiday related activity try this simple exercise. Stop what you are doing, take a few slow deep breaths, and ask yourself, “How do I really want to express my authentic self?” If no immediate answer appears, don’t do anything just yet. Keep your question alive until you eventually have your answer. Connection to your creative spirit allows your own joyful essence fill every experience.
Stop Demanding Yourself To Be Happy
We all want to be happy during the holiday season, but putting that unreasonable demand upon yourself can create additional pressure. Happiness is an emotion, and like all emotions, it comes and goes. During the holidays, don’t be afraid to admit how you’re really feeling. Ignoring your sadness, emptiness, loneliness, or depression won’t make it go away. Find caring people who will listen without judging you. And when do actually find a reason to be happy, acknowledge the moment, breathe it in, and allow yourself to feel good.
Eat To Be Happy Now and Later
Eating is a big part of the holiday season. But overeating, eating to kill emotions, or severe restrictive eating, can all take the fun out every holiday occasion. When you walk into a holiday event, eat only the best of what there is, not all of what there is. Choose foods that are worthy of your taste buds and your goals. Select your favorite foods, the most exciting and appealing foods, then sit down and really enjoy them. This means eating your favorites while keeping in touch with your body’s limits. Notice when you are full, or when the food you are eating stops tasting as good as it did. And if the food doesn’t meet your expectations at all, walk away.
Watch Your Alcohol Intake
With the increased stress and pressures of the holiday season, you may be tempted to reach for alcohol to help you feel a bit happier and more relaxed. However, when you are feeling anger, anxiety, sadness, or frustration, alcohol may make things worse. After drinking, people sometimes act in ways that they would normally not act. You may be more prone to angry outbursts, cynical snide remarks, arguments, aggression, or violence. In addition, while a little alcohol may make you feel temporarily relaxed, alcohol is a depressant and often makes you feel worse than before.
Holiday Stress Buster Plan
Feeling irritable, tense, overwhelmed, or losing sleep, are signs that you need to bust through some holiday stress. Stress is an emotional reaction to circumstances that you feel are beyond your control. Instead of ignoring your stress, take some time out and acknowledge your feelings. Let yourself rant and rave out loud, cry, talk things out, or write down your feelings. Getting it all out in the open helps you notice what is stressing you out, and look for alternatives to minimize or prevent it.
Do you need to get more sleep, organize your time more effectively, prioritize your activities, eat a diet that works for you, schedule time for physical movement, use less caffeine, or carve out time to relax more? Be careful not to over commit, and don’t take on more than you can comfortably handle. Take action and whatever steps you can to reduce your feelings of helplessness and provide a sense of control over the problem.
Small changes in how you approach the holidays can make a big difference between feeling completed overwhelmed and depressed, and actually enjoying your time. Use the above tips to find balance between holiday tradition and enjoying the fun the holiday season.
Do you have any unique holiday survival tips or suggestions? Use the comments section below and let us know what you’ve discovered to create a joyful holiday season.
About the Author: Want to learn more about how to live consciously, love deeply, and laugh often? Come along with Dr. Annette Colby and learn the secrets to creating the life you’ve always wanted to live! Subscribe to her blog Divine Self! today.
