Holidays Invite Stress, Grief, Reflection
This week, my counseling office has withstood some very intense, complicated emotions. I wasn't unprepared, however, because this is usually true of any week before a major holiday. Most of us use some of this time to reflect on where we are, what we still want to do, and how we would like to change our lives.
My constant (repetitive?) refrain has been this: please be gentle with yourselves at this time of year. Self-flagellation is only effective at inviting deeper despair. It never leads to the sort of open-hearted, thoughtful steps that lead to real, transformative change in our lives. When we're struggling with sadness, grief, or other issues, sometimes it's just about maintaining the current level of functioning so that we can get through a stressful time. I've written about holiday stress and despair before - here are some suggestions for maintaining at this time of year:
Dealing with kids and extended families at the holidays