The 'End of December' Blues

Do you find the whole world is thinking holiday parties, dinners - gifts?...and you wonder where are your invitations? Or you also may be thinking - "where did this year go?" All those goals, plans and ideas you had for last January...they may have disappeared - maybe not entirely..but more than you would have liked. How do we manage not falling into despair alley. Well, first thing is to realize you are not alone. Being away from family, or feeling like you are "all alone" is not uncommon. This is one of the hardest times of the year to manage FOMO - fear of missing out. When we compare ourselves to others, it is a recipe for feeling like we are on the losing end of life. Interestingly it is also one of the hardest times of the hear to manage expectations. For those who have to spilt time between different families and friends, it can be more stressful than joyful.

So how do we manage? The most powerful remedy for not feeling blue is remembering you have what it takes to stay grounded in a peaceful place. So often we rely on something outside ourselves to make us feel better.

Some suggestions to tap into your built-in coach:

Watch how your inner voice (the critic) wants to snag you into thinking negative thoughts. Be vigilant about saying "thank you for sharing" and tune into the voice (the coach) that says "i'm ok".

While it is important to reach out when we need to talk or be with a friend, it is also critical to build the relationship with yourself. Pay attention to what you are really needing - someone to talk to, some quiet time, something to eat....or a walk in the fresh air?

Be present with your feelings - when we deny what is happening in the moment, those feelings stay buried. Just like when you feel acknowledged when someone listens to you, the same thing happens when you listen to yourself. You feel better for being real with the sadness or loneliness or overwhelm. Then before you know it, you realize those feelings diminish. Life has a way of presenting us with a changing pallet of emotions - what you are feeling? is it true or is it a fearful thought….

Being grateful is often cited as how we can move out feelings of loneliness or sadness - and yes, gratitude works. When we are in the thick of the blues though, it is hard to find even one thing for which to be grateful. So here are some basics..air to breathe, fresh water to drink, no snow...you decide what goes on your gratitude list and keep it with you at all times. And lastly remember, this too, shall pass. Thanks to the ever changing nature of life, we get a fresh slate every day to make it great.