Episode 135: Tackling the Holiday Hangover—Recognizing Holiday People Pleasing and Setting the Stage for an Emotionally Healthy New Year
Dec 26, 2024
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Join Anjuli Paschall, a spiritual director and author of 'Feel,' as she dives into the emotional rollercoaster of post-holiday life. She discusses the toll of holiday people-pleasing and shares strategies to reclaim personal boundaries for a more empowered New Year. Anjuli explores why the transition into a new year can be bittersweet and offers practical spiritual practices to navigate complicated emotions. Discover how to cultivate aspirational feelings and move forward with clarity and hope.
Acknowledging and processing post-holiday emotions can lead to personal growth and healthier relationships with holiday traditions.
Embracing creativity and realistic aspirations at the start of the New Year fosters personal renewal and fulfillment without perfectionism.
Deep dives
Understanding Post-Holiday Emotions
Post-holiday emotions are complex and often involve feelings of exhaustion, relief, and letdown. Many people experience a mix of sentiments as decorations come down and festive gatherings end, leading to a common sense of gloom or sadness. There is a recognition that these feelings may stem from the pressure to create the perfect holiday experience for others, which can often lead to feelings of guilt and disappointment if those expectations are not met. A powerful shift occurs when individuals learn to acknowledge these emotions, giving them a space to process and understand why they feel the way they do in the aftermath of the holidays.
The Complexity of Relief and Freedom
Feelings of relief can coexist with sadness after the holiday season. As people clean up and return to their regular routines, they often experience a contrasting sense of freedom, realizing that they can let go of the burdens they carried during the festivities. This relief invites introspection, exploring what individuals might be freed from, such as unrealistic expectations or responsibilities for the happiness of others. Embracing this realization allows for growth and understanding, creating healthier relationships with holiday traditions and personal well-being.
Navigating the Gloom of Transition
The sensation of gloominess can arise during the transitional period after the holidays, often linked to a loss associated with the end of festive activities. This feeling is not as profound as sadness but represents a sense of longing for what has passed, highlighting the importance of recognizing and processing these emotions. Acknowledging gloom allows individuals to appreciate the joyful moments experienced during the holidays while also confronting the reality of change. By practicing mindfulness and self-care during these feelings, people can create space for new experiences and emotions in the upcoming year.
Embracing Creativity in the New Year
The transition into the new year brings an opportunity for imaginative renewal and the exploration of creativity. While some may feel pressure from resolutions, others find that the start of the year sparks a fresh perspective on their aspirations and desires. Creativity becomes a means to transition from the past into a hopeful future, allowing individuals to dream and plan without the constraints of perfectionism. By focusing on realistic goals and nurturing creative impulses, one can harness the energy of a new beginning to foster personal growth and fulfillment.
Feeling exhaustion or post-holiday blues? How can we step into the New Year feeling refreshed and empowered?
In this honest and vulnerable conversation, spiritual director and author Anjuli Paschall and I unpack our own journeys through holiday people-pleasing and how to reset for the New Year. As we close out the year, many of us grapple with a mix of relief and disappointment, compounded by the pressure of New Year's resolutions and the desire to start fresh. Anjuli offers her expert guidance on understanding these dynamics and introduces practical steps and spiritual practices to help us move forward with hope and clarity.
Here’s what we cover:
* How to break free from holiday people-pleasing
* The #1 way to stop trying to control other people’s feelings
* Why post-holiday let down happens & what to do
* How to develop and cultivate aspirational feelings in your body
* Why the hope of a new year sometimes hurts & how to navigate those feelings
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Music by Andy Luiten
Sound editing by Kelly Kramarik
While Dr. Cook is a counselor, the content of this podcast and any of the products provided by Dr. Cook are not specific counseling advice nor are they a substitute for individual counseling. The content and products provided on this podcast are for informational purposes only.