“It’s beginning to look a lot
like Christmas everywhere you go…” But maybe this year you just aren’t feeling
it. The decorations, the planning, the shopping…it all seems so overwhelming. You
are neither merry nor bright.
I totally get it. In fact, I
wrote about my struggle with "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" six years
ago. You are not alone. There are so many reasons why this time of year is
hard. Maybe you’re dealing with financial pressure. Or you have some difficult
relationship issues causing you anxiety. Perhaps you are grieving the loss of a
loved one. Maybe you have some unhappy memories associated with this time of
year. Or you might be paralyzed by perfectionism as you pursue a
Pinterest-worthy Christmas. The holidays certainly have a way of magnifying our
circumstances!
How do you embrace life
during a season that is so hard? Here are some things that I have learned:
Acknowledge Your Situation
It’s okay to admit that you
are having a hard time. Sometimes life throws us a curve ball that gets us
off-balance. You do not have to pretend that everything is ok. Give yourself
permission to grieve. Don’t be afraid to tell others about what is really
happening in your life.
Practice Good Self-Care
Be good to yourself,
especially during times of stress. Eat nutritious food. Get enough sleep. Seek
out positivity and limit negative influences. Get up and move around more.
Indulge in those activities that are energizing for you. Healthy choices will
sustain you during hard times.
Avoid Isolation
When we are hurting, we often
respond by withdrawing from others. This is completely normal, but not helpful.
Resist the urge to retreat into your own little shell. Reach out. Ask for help.
Don’t expect others to just know what you need. Find a way to stay connected
to others.
Find a Meaningful Way to Celebrate
Perhaps some of your
traditions seem too difficult or too painful this year. Maybe it’s time for you
to let go of any previous expectations you might have about how to celebrate
the holidays. If what you’ve always done isn’t going to work this year, then
give yourself permission to make a change! Consider what would make this season
more meaningful for you. Try a new advent devotional. Schedule more time with
family and friends. Decorate more. Decorate less. Adjust gift-giving expectations
and stay within your budget. Attend a local Christmas concert or play. Find a
way to help others in need in your community. Make your celebration an
expression of what is meaningful for you and your family.
Fine-tune Your Focus
Whatever you focus on will
grow, so where is your focus? If you focus only on what’s hard right now, then
that will eventually overwhelm you and steal your joy. But, if you focus on
what you do have and what you can do, then you will begin to see a way forward.
When the empty places of your heart are crying out to be filled, keep
your eyes on the One who truly brings comfort and joy.
The struggle is real, my
friends. I still experience moments where I am completely overwhelmed by
difficult emotions. Little things can trigger big reactions. Grief is like that
sometimes. However, I am getting better at controlling my responses now. I can better embrace this season and actually enjoy myself.
I believe that you can have
victory in this area, too. Psalm 147:3 says “He heals the broken hearted and
binds up their wounds.” Open your heart today and allow the love of God to heal
the broken and fill the empty. What a precious gift to receive during this
season.
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