Are you feeling overwhelmed with emotion this late fall?
Has it been challenging to keep your spirits up as the weather gets darker?
The holidays can bring up a lot of unease, stress, and sadness for many. Please know that you are not alone. I have put together an actionable list to help you keep your spirits up and rekindle your own inner-light throughout the darkness.
Honoring and Accepting Yourself Journaling Exercise:
A sure way to feel worse is to judge ourselves for how we’re feeling. The first step to feeling better is to hold space for the challenging emotions we face. Take time to journal and write what you are feeling. At the end of the journaling entry, write this mantra, “Even though I am feeling _________________(insert whatever you are feeling: angry, sad, grieving, frustrated, lonely, etc.) I completely love and accept myself.” This step is crucial to feeling better. Please note that this HAS to feel authentic to you. If it doesn’t feel authentic, write this instead, “Even though I am feeling ___________________, I am working on loving and accepting myself.”
Self-Care Inventory:
When we feel more emotional, our self-care routine tends to get off-track. This creates a vicious cycle because when self-care goes out of the window, we feel worse. Take inventory of your self-care routine. Write down the following categories: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, and Financial. Rate each category from 1-10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best). Write about what’s going well for each category and what needs improvement. Then, write 1-3 self-care actions you can take in each category to improve your self-care and get the support you need.
Gratitude Practice:
You may not have control over the circumstances of your life but you DO have control of where you focus your attention. For instance, maybe you don’t yet have the house to put the gorgeous Christmas tree, or you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, or you really hoped to be with a partner but you aren’t yet. Gratitude is crucial in feeling better and refocusing on what we do have rather than what we don’t. Focus on what you are grateful for through listing specific moments you are grateful for at the end of each day.
Hygge Practice:
Hygge is a Danish tradition that means to take comfort in soothing things. Since it’s so dark in Denmark this time of year, people practice Hygge to feel cozy and warm. Even doctors recommend drinking tea! What makes you feel cozy this time of year? List a bunch of ways to feel cozy and commit to doing at least 2.
Acts of Kindness:
One of the best ways to get out of our head is to focus on others. Since it is the season of giving, how can you give from your heart? What brings you meaning and how can you deliver that more to others? In what ways can you do small acts of kindness? Here are some small (but so big and effective) examples: writing a letter of appreciation to someone, calling a friend and sharing kind words, volunteering at the nearest soup kitchen or shelter nearby, making a creative project for someone, running an errand or doing an act of service for someone who needs help.
These 5 practices can help you to feel better and tame your inner critic this time of year. Always remember to get support if you need it.
What would it be like to have someone to support you through the holidays to help you feel better? I have limited spots available in my Tame Your Inner Critic Life-Coaching Program.