Holiday Expectations vs. Reality
The holiday season brings all kinds of sights and sounds that are meant to bring us happiness and excitement. But even the best of us can fall victim to the holiday blues, anxiety, and panic. With so much going on between gifts, get togethers, and greetings cards, it’s very easy to get overwhelmed.
Though the source of our holiday anxiety might be different, the solutions are the same. Don’t shy away from acknowledging it’s there. Instead, take steps to work through the stress so you can enjoy the holiday season and all the festivities that come along with it.
Identify the Root
Stress and anxiety can grow faster than we’d like to admit. While it may be tempting to attack the weeds as they sprout up, if we don’t attack the root (or the source) of the problem, it’ll only continue to grow back.
Being able to differentiate between the source and the symptoms is necessary to work through our struggles. Maybe the idea of hosting a family meal is starting to feel like too much. Do you need to scale back? Ask for help? Allow yourself to take a break from planning?
Finding the root cause of the problem––doing too much, financial stress, needing to slow down––can help you manage your holiday schedule and tasks better, instead of just pushing through or masking your emotions.
Let Go of Perfection
We would all love for our homes to look like the cover of holiday magazines or social media influencers. But the reality is, those photos are curated moments that usually only last long enough for someone to snap the picture.
You live in a moving world. Your table isn’t meant to be immortalized in the perfect picture. It’s meant to be a place to make memories, share laughs, and have a meal with loved ones. Oftentimes stress and anxiety are born from the need to have everything look exactly like we picture it in our minds. But don’t rob yourself of the joy that making messes can bring.
Let the kitchen get covered in flour while you bake holiday treats. Leave the blankets scattered across the couch as family and friends get cozy in front of the fire. Life is in constant motion––and perfection will always feel just out of reach. But the holidays aren’t meant to be perfect. They’re meant to be enjoyed for every little up and down that comes with sharing time with those near and dear to your heart.
Look for Support
Having a good community of people around you during the holiday season can help you when the stress and anxiety get too high. Whether it’s a simple text, a quick call, or an invitation over as you work through your to-dos, bringing others into your life is exactly what the holiday season is about!
Don’t try to get by alone––nobody expects that of you. Nobody’s life is perfect and we don’t have to keep people at arm’s length until we feel ready to present the picturesque moment. People want to feel a sense of connection, and allowing them to see the “behind-the-scenes” of your life is a great way to build that connectivity. There’s nothing quite like preparing for the holidays together before celebrating them together!
Find Contentment in Jesus
There are plenty of reasons to celebrate the holidays with thankfulness. But none better than the fact that we get to show God our gratitude and sing praises to the King of kings. While we sip our hot chocolate, surround ourselves with friends, and fill our bellies with delicious food, our ultimate gift this holiday season is God. A God who cares about us and invites us to cast all our anxieties onto Him.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” – 1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Casting our cares onto Him means we don’t have to carry all the burdens. We can trust in His power to overcome as we find contentment in Him––despite anything going wrong in our lives. When we find contentment in Him, we don’t need everything to be perfect. We can lay aside the stress and anxiety, and instead rest in the comfort of His love. Thank the Lord this holiday season for all He has done and all He is doing. Abide in Him as He abides in you, and you will find rest for your soul this holiday season.
A Prayer for Stress and Anxiety During the Holidays:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the abundant blessings You have poured out on my life this past year. As I get ready to celebrate the holidays, I pray that I’ll have a heart of gratitude. Thank You for giving the world the best reason to celebrate. You are with us and that is the best gift we could ever ask for! In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
