Holiday Blues
By: Dr. Jill Fox
Many people feel down or blue during the Holiday season. The reasons are numerous, including financial problems, family tension, unrealistic expectations, and fatigue. People sometimes try to recreate an ideal holiday from years gone by, and feel disappointed when events do not happen as they expect. People who have lost loved ones either through death or divorce have an especially hard time. Here are 5 suggestions to beat your blues this holiday season.
- Be honest with yourself about what you can do during this holiday season. Your family will still love you if you make 2 or 12 different kinds of cookies. Set realistic goals and schedule time in between activities for catch up. Most of all schedule time to bond with others. If you are alone volunteer at a food kitchen. The person blessed will be you.
- Reconnect with God this holiday. God can grant a peace like nothing else. Get in the word. Be still and experience the power of the Holey Spirit. Find out where God is working all around you and join him in his effort. This may mean you sponcer a less fortunate family this holiday season.
- Let go of the past. Perhaps Christmas was difficult at your home growing up. Maybe your memories focus on only negative experiences. Often our memories are deceptive. It takes 10 positives memories to displace 1 negative memory. Force yourself to write down any positive memory and read the list over and over. It will dramatically change your attitude.
- Forgive someone who has hurt you deeply. Frequently, we carry deep wounds that continue to haunt us year after year. Sometimes it is very hard to think of forgiving a person who inflicted such pain. Often, you are the only one still in pain. The person who hurt you is continuing their life and never thinking of you. Forgiveness has nothing to do with the person who hurt you. It has everything to do with letting yourself off the hook, and enjoying life once more.
- Say NO! Over commitment is a Hugh issue, especially during the holiday season. Make your no mean no. Practice if you have to.
Remember that no one has the perfect family. Learn to enjoy the holiday despite the flaws. Celebrate the birthday of Christ this year, and give him the best birthday present of all. Yourself.