Festive Season Survival

What emotions come to your mind when you hear the word “holidays”? Are you flooded with a sense of excitement imagining twinkle lights, summer braais and family gatherings? Or are you consumed with feelings of stress, racing thoughts and what-if questions on how you are going to manage getting everything done in time?
 
Perhaps the holidays bring about a great sense of sadness or loss and are an acute reminder of what could have been? Realistically, you may feel all these things in one form or another at this time of year.
 
Here are a few ways to help carry your own mixed bag of emotions:

• Acknowledge the Bag: What’s inside your bag of emotions? Happiness, sadness, grief, stress, anxiety, dread, excitement? Take a moment to think about this, acknowledging each of your emotions and how they influence your mood.
• Slow Down: You’ve heard this many times before. Do you have five minutes before you fall asleep, 30 seconds to smile at a stranger, a small break at work to bring yourself back to the present or the time spent in your car? Whenever it is, take the time to slow yourself down, recognize the emotional benefits, and just be.
• Give: When we think of giving during this time of year images of presents often pop into our heads. Beyond this, giving of time, space, and energy are all ways in which the receiver and giver can fill their emotional bags with positive feelings.
• Traditions: Embrace the traditions you have and create new ones. This can look different for everyone and can be difficult if you are in a time of transition however, traditions provide a sense of stability in one’s life and can reduce stress in an efficacious way.
• Gather: Call up that friend you’ve been meaning to get together with, invite family over for a meal, volunteer, or attend holiday happenings around your town. Connecting with others during the holiday season is a great way to combat feelings of loneliness and provide a sense of fulfilment in a way that is unique to everyone. Our collection of emotions is ever-changing.
•  This season recognize where you are at, reflect on the events of this past year, and redirect your focus to how you’d like your bag of emotions to influence your life in the New Year.

 
Contact me to make sense of this season - [email protected] or on 084 779 4889. Visit my website on www.nadinetherapy.co.za.

Credit: relatemn.org