Emotion Overload

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6: 34

The holiday season can be a great one for emotional overload. Why? Because if you’re anything like me, you’re juggling all kinds of memories, emotions and experiences all at the same time. You’ve got the happiness you feel on a regular basis, coupled maybe with some excitement from anticipated gifts or gift giving. Maybe it’s your first holiday without some loved ones, or your hundredth memory of those who are gone. The weather is changing, the days are shorter, and sometimes it just doesn’t seem like there’s enough time. If we’re feeling all those emotions at the same time, it can be a lot.

How do you handle that? Are you spending enough time with loved ones? Or maybe it’s better if you avoid some people, to protect your peace. Are you working within a budget so you don’t over exert your finances. Are you eating healthy, and drinking enough water, to balance out all those holiday treats. These are all things that can help you maintain a level of control during the holiday season. But what can be just as important, is remembering to pour into yourself and make room for the feelings you’re experiencing, instead of trying to pretend you don’t feel them. Where to begin, allow me to affirm you on this journey.

Affirmation 1: You are worthy of joy and peace. No matter what Hurt you have experienced around this time of year, you deserve to be Happy and to have joy and peace. Those emotions are not off limits to you just because you’ve experienced loss. So as you move forward in your life, learn to be ok with returning to these pleasant emotions and be Happy.

Affirmation 2: Worrying won’t make it better. A lot of times around this season we find ourselves worrying about things we cannot change. While it is healthy to accept the things you cannot change, spending excessive amounts of energy just worrying about it is not healthy. That will cause you undue stress and can lead to anxiety and other physical ailments. So give yourself permission to take life as it comes and free your mind of worrying over things you cannot control.

Affirmation 3: You are in charge of your response to this season. No matter how you choose to spend the holidays, be it surrounded by family and friends or taking the opportunity to escape and have some much needed me time, you get to decide how it’s spent. Don’t try to make traditions that don’t matter to you feel important, and definitely don’t do it to please anyone else. Take the time to examine what will make this a good time for you and indulge.

All in all, I wish you the happiest of holidays, however you’re celebrating them, and most importantly I wish you peace and good will. I love you, and I’m always rooting for you. Happy holidays, and keep conquering daily.