6 Ways to Relieve Christmas Pressure

Facing the challenge of spending Christmas feel sad, lacking in something or strained? Read on to discover how to relieve Christmas tension and celebrate in ways that work for you.

Christmas and the time approaching is complex for many, yet Christmas is meant to be meaningful. Having insight into what Christmas can be allows us to celebrate accordingly. To some of us,

1. Go Gently

Side view of female hand holding hot cup of coffee in winter
Christmas has become a personal celebration of how much we can gain, at worst, or give, at best. The requirement to give at Christmas can be draining when we feel we have little to give or that much has been taken from us.

Christmas has become almost a challenge to expend energy at a time when our energy is low. Days of cold and darkness, coupled with the materialism and fantasy of Christmas advertising, sap our energy as do sad and negative memories associated with Christmas. Some of us carry the imprint of Christmases that did not yield happiness or joy and delivered pain and sorrow instead. Whatever your association with Christmas is, it is important to recognize and respect the challenges that Christmas brings.

2. Christmas Peace

One challenge of Christmas is the element of ‘supposed to’. When we are ‘supposed to’ or ‘expected to’ celebrate despite our feelings being hurt, our mind being preoccupied, our budget being low or anything else, the result is pain and pressure. When we separate ourselves from the demands of Christmas, it becomes a time when we create for ourselves the opportunity to be happy or peaceful.

Much Christmas peace and goodwill is lost to the pressure of living up to societal Christmas expectations. It needn’t be this way. Sometimes, less is more, and for those of us feeling taxed by Christmas, this is the path to take. Remember, despite the influence of others, there is nothing to live up to.

3. Re-Define Christmas

Christmas is historically linked to the Winter Solstice, which occurs on or around 21 December, marking the beginning of longer days and sunnier weather. Christmas can be understood as the celebration of the return, or birth, of light whether it’s the light of the sun or the light of Jesus Christ. We can also assign our own interpretation to the celebration of Christmas.

Deciding what Christmas and the birth of the light means to us, frees us from conventional pressures and demands. When we define what Christmas is to us, we express our own reasons for rejoicing and we celebrate on our own terms. We live the day in our values. Perhaps the beauty of Christmas for those of us who have found or will find it sad is our survival or love despite what we have lost.

4. Put Christmas into Perspective

christmas puppets near a fireplace

Realize that people all over the world spend Christmas in different ways and many do not celebrate it at all. When recalling the traditions and expectations of Christmas, remember that slavery was once a tradition and that being tradition does not always mean that something is valuable.

Choose your own traditions. Christmas is one day in your life. Those who love it may make it stretch as much as possible, but, ultimately, it is a day rather than a pastime or culture. Realize that what you see in adverts is a lifestyle unavailable to many and, like much advertising, is largely unrealistic and empty. Do what you can with what you have, and remember the hidden faces of Christmas.

5. Neutralize

Decorate your home with neutral objects such as pine cones, white ceramics or glass stones in a bowl. Use neutral wrapping paper and free yourself from the traditional red and green tinselly Christmas that may, by association, cause you pain. Negotiate with others and choose a different meal.

If the sight of a Christmas tree is an emotional trigger for you, don’t have one. Spend Christmas your way as far as possible. Create your own traditions. It is possible that you are unable to create the Christmas you used to have, no matter how much you may want to or try to, or you may want no part of how Christmas used to be. Start anew and design nurturing rituals and behaviors for your day.

6. Honor Your Feelings

If sadness is what you feel at Christmas, let it be so and practice self-care. Rather than trying to ‘be happy’ or plunging yourself into celebrations you are ill-equipped for at this time, nurture your feelings and let them guide what you do this season. Remember, although you may have no choice over how you feel at Christmas time, you do have a choice about how to spend it.

Make it your present to yourself to approach Christmas gently with your feelings and apprehensions in mind. With or without tinsel this season, Christmas will come, winter will pass and light will return.

About the author

Meg Jones

I am a person who lives according to my own source of divinity and power to the best of my ability, despite mistakes and challenges along the way. I embrace life, and I write to share with others in a bid to aid us in finding and living within our highest good.

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