How-To Cope with the ‘Holiday Blues’

While the holidays are portrayed as a time of cheer, that’s not always the case for many people. If you can relate, keep reading for tips on how to cope with the holiday blues from an energy perspective.

Why is it that, as I become more awakened, I don’t feel the same about the holidays?

This is very common, not only when doing self-healing work and diving into energy medicine, but also as we age and gain wisdom from life experiences.

When I see other people not enjoying their holidays, it could be for any number of reasons. Maybe you’ll relate to one or two…

Many people have different perspectives about the holidays based on their personal faith; that can lead to feeling a bit despondent or apathetic this time of year.

For others, they’ve recently dealt with a loss that leaves a void, one that becomes even more glaring during the holidays. Or it could be that their support system has dwindled, for one reason or another, and they just don’t have the same community with which to celebrate the holidays.

One big reason for the ‘holiday blues’ is that there is a disagreement with a partner or family who doesn’t see this season the way you do. Some people, on the other hand, don’t have anyone at all, so they spend the whole season knowing they’ll be alone.

The biggest cause of the ‘holiday blues,’ in my experience, is that people feel a lack of real meaning in all of the holiday hype; they feel overwhelmed with how so many others seem to make it all about consumerism. Society also has a large part to play as far as that’s concerned.

My advice for the ‘holiday blues’ is like all my work: there is no one-size-fits-all.

Just like there are many different makes and models of cars, there can also be many interpretations of what a holiday is and what it means to you.

Don’t hold onto the past with the expectation that the holidays will be just like the ones you used to have. One of the biggest disappointments we encounter as we age is that the things we once thought to be fulfilling no longer are.

Your holiday season can be anything you want it to be.

The energy that you put into your holiday is the energy you will receive.

I’ve seen many people from all different backgrounds that are totally okay with not having a traditional Christmas. That version of Christmas just doesn’t fit into what they believe to be true, so it has no effect. Many children have never had a Christmas tree with presents underneath it and never notice the difference. As a society, we’ve decided that’s not okay, so we create this belief of how our children will see Christmas in the future. Then, they grow up and feel empty because that energy can’t sustain.

Christmas started with celebrating the birth of Christ. The people who truly understand that and embody that energy throughout the holidays don’t seem to struggle. I believe it’s because the holiday is real to them and has a root energy that’s fulfilling to them. 

When we go through the motions of life and don’t understand why we do the things we do, our choices will become chaotic energy over time. Self-healing comes from seeing the root of the energy you feed, so it has power and purpose in your life.

So, for example, if you’re not celebrating the birth of Christ because that doesn’t fit into your belief system, what are you celebrating at Christmas? Identify the intention behind the celebration, and you will feel much more fulfilled than simply buying presents because you’re “supposed to.”

The point is to create your own holiday season to fit with where you’re at, not what others believe.

The first place to start if you’re struggling is to make someone else’s day.

Start slow and dig deep inside to make someone else feel better. Don’t expect anything in return. Just do it for the satisfaction of charitable or kind works.

Next, do something that makes you happy. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate or complicated. We all have simple things that make us happy.

It could be making a cup of hot cocoa, going for a walk in nature, making a recipe and sharing it, reading a good book, etc. Make it about you and what makes you happy.

Make a list so that any time you’re feeling a bit blue, you can return to your list and have a holiday whenever you want!

Every few days throughout the season, define what a holiday means to you. It’s okay if you don’t know. Most people have no idea. They just go along with what has always happened until that’s no longer an option, then it becomes empty for them, as well.

Keep learning. Keep exploring. Don’t make it about everything you don’t have; focus on what you do have and what you can do with it for yourself and for others.

Let’s face it… we all set ourselves up to think that the parties will be grand, and family is your anchor. Then when all is said and done, it never seemed to match up with your expectations.

The root energy behind holidays is made up, so why can’t you make up your own version!

It’s pretty hard to feel disappointed with a cup of hot cocoa and a moment to yourself, smelling the steam and savoring the taste.

Remember- during this and every time of year… You are your own healer. All you need is some direction.

For more tools to help you tap within and create the meaning of the holiday season for yourself, shop the Body Within mindfulness tools.