Holiday Sparkles this Year? Journal Prompts For Holiday Season
DO WE FORGET THE SPARKLES THIS YEAR?
JOURNAL PROMPTS TO HELP YOU GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Last year we ran an entire blog series about the “winter blues” and Seasonal Affective Disorder and the feedback was overwhelming. Many people really relate to having seasonal bouts of depression and truly appreciated learning more about it and feeling validated.
The most popular line was “It’s OK to not feel very sparkly this year.”
It really resonated with people. People felt they could breathe a bit easier without the added pressure of unrealistic expectations.
Covid, Holidays and Sparkly “feels”, anyone?
Since COVID-19 life shifted the way we celebrate and live life, expectations are altered and it could be a great opportunity to focus on what really matters about the holidays. Have you ever really thought about what the holidays actually mean to you? Pause reading and really think about it for a second
Perhaps you thought about family, friends, parties…? If that’s the case, your holiday will certainly look a bit different this year. Many people are lonelier than ever and feel more disconnected to their loved ones. In-person parties might be out of the question and, let’s face it, zoom parties suck.
I would like to challenge you to think about some of the following ideas and maybe use each one as journal prompts that can help you shift your mindset in the days leading up to the holidays;
Shifting your mindset this Holiday Season
What sort of activities truly make my heart sparkle? Like if you could put aside all external expectations and really focus on the aspects of your life that really matter, what would that look like? You don’t have to forget the sparkles this year, rather reevaluate what is truly sparkly.
Who is really important in your life and how can you show them how much they mean to you in a way they would appreciate? (not in a way you would appreciate).
What are your most important values? Are you living true to them? Or are they just theoretical? How would your life change if you were actually living true to what you say are your values?
For many people this season is all about giving. Well that is a very noble theme and one that should be explored. But for now, consider what you need for yourself in order to give to others without resentment and overload. You know the saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” right? What will fill your cup to the max so that by the time the holiday comes around you are overflowing with enoughness and it can easily spill over to others without impacting your own energy.
Now that your cup is overflowing, in what way can you give to others in a safe way (visiting hospitals and senior homes is likely not appropriate this year). If you are lonely this year, rather than focusing on your own loneliness, consider others who are also feeling like that and connect with them. Giving is actually a form of receiving (and visa versa).
Now that you are less distracted with other holiday expectations, what resolutions can you work toward this year?
Rather than changing all of your related habits right away, consider a slow roll out. Also consider just sitting with the options for a bit without changing anything. How can you learn more about the things you want to change?
What resources are available? What went wrong in the past when you tried to change it? What can you learn from each time it didn’t work out as expected?
How can you look at the challenge differently?
Perhaps you are skipping many steps? Perhaps you are beating yourself up about it ? (which is never helpful) Consider all different sorts of solutions and also consider if any of those solutions could also create other problems.
What are your feelings about the problem? Like really think about what emotions are evoked when you think about your life if nothing changes. Consider writing out a story of how your life might play out if that problem was unfixable...
Noticing is the first step to making a shift
Taking the time to notice what is going on in your life rather than just going going going can be really eye opening. Some people have a hard time sitting with their thoughts and emotions like that. It can be a really powerful exercise though. When we are still, that is normally when the best solutions or resolutions come out.
Sometimes, stillness can feel like a faraway reality.
And for you, in this. moment, it may be overrated.
It’s amazing when you can do it, but it can be a difficult practice when you’re just not in the space to go there. Or it may take a lot of work to get to a small moment of stillness And that’s ok.
Especially during holiday time.
Free downloads to help you get in touch with mind + body + spirit
If you have not yet downloaded my free mindfulness, meditation and body scan mini e-book, here is the link.
On the same page is a mindfulness exercise you can try to help you just sit with yourself a bit. I hope you enjoy!
An amazing holiday offer of an art therapy group with Kate!
One more thing… Kate Hertweck is one of our new clinicians and is giving a free mindfulness and body awareness workshop as a holiday gift to all of you! Click here to sign up.
Looking for one-on-one counseling for personalized care? Check out our services page to see how we can help!
Sending you much strength and warm wishes,
Esther and the Integrative Team