If you are one of the lucky ones who do not have all kinds of emotions coming up during the holidays, please do celebrate with wild abandon. For the rest of us, who have mixed memories and feelings, here are some tips to help you not just get through the next month or so, but actually use it to process some emotions and become healthier!
And even if the holidays don’t stretch you emotionally, we all have other times in our lives that bring up tough emotions. These tips are great for any emotionally challenging times.
When you feel a thing:
Pause and recognize that you are feeling something uncomfortable.
Set an intention to be interested in what you feel and NOT to judge it, numb out or distract yourself from it.
Notice where you are feeling it in your body.
Notice the physical sensations.
Name what you are feeling, if you can. Otherwise describe it as best as possible.
What is this emotion telling me I need? Comfort? Re-evaluation of a situation? Acceptance and surrender? To uphold a boundary? To change or challenge an old story I have about myself?
How will I honor this emotion in taking the first step in meeting this need?
It might not be possible to go through all these steps while you are with your family. Use this as an exercise after the holidays to reflect, tend to some old wounds and set yourself up for a year of honoring your emotions.
Remember that tough emotions can be our wise guides to lasting change. Embrace them as teachers and a lot of healing and growth can come from it.
Happy holidays!