It's the Most Complicated Time of the Year

Oh, the holidays... it's often a time when we're looking forward to good memories, good cheer, and spending quality time with friends and family. And for many, the holidays do hold wonderful things. 

I think it's beneficial when we attune and acknowledge that for others, however, it's a time of grief, loss, disconnection from difficult relationships, shame regarding financial circumstances, and hyper-awareness and feelings of failure regarding societal expectations.

My personal bias is that everyone struggles a little more than we are comfortable acknowledging (or have time to acknowledge) during this season - especially when we feel we're supposed to be feeling happy about it all. The truth is, it's a busier time, a more stressful time, a time with less sunlight, and if you have experienced grief (even if it's not been recent) it's a time we remember those memories and feel more longing.

My hope is that you give yourself permission to sit with the easy and the difficult feelings this holiday season. If you find it difficult to connect with difficult feelings or if you find it's hard to lean out of them once they begin, the beginning of the year is a great time to give yourself the gift of therapy.

How do you want to feel this time next year? And what compassionate support do you need right now?

I'm wishing you peace as we close out this year and head towards the next.

Best,

Jessica