Masterful Mindsets – Hope for Hurting During the Holidays

“Embrace your grief. For there, your soul will grow.”  ~Carl Jung

Question:

Do you find yourself feeling sad and alone even though you think you “should” be happy because it’s the holidays? Are you grieving from a loss or overcome by depression?

Action Challenge:

For some, the holiday season is just about over. But for others it may be just beginning. Either way, I’m sure you are well aware that the holidays aren’t always “the most wonderful time of the year” for everyone.

As a matter of fact, the holidays can be a very difficult time for many. They can amplify emotional wounds and cause serious depression. If you have experienced loss or struggle of any kind recently, it can be an especially difficult time, as the holidays can significantly increase sadness and grief.

So how do you survive the holidays if you are hurting?

Grief and depression are natural when you are experiencing a loss in your life. For some, loss isn’t just the death of a loved one, but can be the death of a dream, a relationship or even a job. Just know that grief and depression have many causes and take on many faces. You don’t have to label it – if you are feeling it, you are feeling it. And my hope is that the following tips will help you cope:

• Acknowledge your grief. –  Allow yourself to feel and honor your emotions. Don’t ignore them.
• Talk about it. – Talking through your feelings of whatever/whomever you are grieving can give you an outlet for your pain.
• Eliminate unnecessary stress and know your limits. – Pushing yourself beyond your limits or adding extra stress will only increase your depression. Being tired or overwhelmed never serves anyone.
• Do what’s right for you. – Say no to social gatherings or old traditions if you don’t feel like doing them this year. It’s okay. Honor your needs.
• Ask for help and get support. – Whether this be from family and friends or a professional counselor or coach. You don’t have to cope with your pain alone.
• Look for a way to shift the focus from your sadness to your hopes. – This can significantly improve your mood and open you to receive love and perhaps some peace in your life.

My challenge to you isn’t really a challenge this week at all… It’s more of a request actually. I want to encourage you to be gentle with yourself and with others. You never know what hardships someone may be experiencing. And I want to request that if you feel like the dark cloud of depression and grief are too much for you this holiday season, that you seek help. You do not have to suffer alone.

Here’s hoping that you will find peace, love and hope in your life this holiday season and beyond into the new year (and the new decade)!

***I want to hear from you… Share your thoughts about this week’s topic below!

***And don’t forget to grab the free downloadable – High Performance Holiday Habits Guide. This quick little reference guide applies a holiday twist to the concepts I teach my high performance clients year round, to help them up-level their lives. This guide will easily help you have a happier, more stress free, peaceful holiday. Grab the High Performance Holiday Habits Guide here: https://michelleweimer.com/holidayhabits