Holiday blues happen to everyone. Having the blues during the holidays puts a damper on your enjoyment and the blessings the season has to bring. There are valid reasons to have the blues during the holiday season like losing a loved one, the loss of a job, a broken relationship, or being alone. Here are a few ideas to overcome the holiday blues so you can salvage some of the joy of the season.
Acknowledge Why You Are Blue
Acknowledge why you are feeling blue. It is not always a good idea to suppress emotions. The holiday season can make our emotional pain more acute. By acknowledging why you are blue you are bringing it out into the open to deal with it. Hard as that may seem, it is the only way to allow the healing to begin. I acknowledge my sadness and sorrows in prayer to the Lord. He always hears my prayers and knows the backdrop of my life and why I am blue. Jesus was “a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3 KJV) Jesus invites us all to “cast our cares upon Him because He cares so deeply for each of us.” (1 Peter 5:7 KJV) Begin by acknowledging why you are blue. It’s the first step.
Set Holiday Goals
Set holiday goals to work through and around the reason you are blue. If you are feeling grief over the passing of a loved one, decide to join a support group like Grief Share. Grief Share is a non-denominational Biblically sound Christian support group. Click on this link to find a group near you to help you through. https://www.griefshare.org/findagroup December and January are the number one months for businesses to lay off due to end-of-the-year financial reviews. Set a holiday goal to update your resume, learn new skills, and find a seasonal job to bring in some cash while looking for a new job. If it is a broken relationship or loneliness that has you blue then set a goal to help others in need during the holidays. Local churches and establishments like the Salvation Army are a good start. Set a holiday goal to offset and overcome your holiday blues.
Don’t Go It Alone
Don’t go it alone! God did not create us to go it alone. We need each other to help lift us and encourage us when life gets a little heavy. Don’t go it alone. Reach out to a friend, a co-worker, a family member, or even a neighbor. While it is okay to feel blue, it is not okay to stay blue. Search out a good church to attend and speak to the pastor or clergy on staff. Make an appointment with a healthcare official. Pray! God is available any hour of the day or night. He is just a prayer away. God’s Word tells us, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you” in Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) Just don’t go it alone. Reach out!
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Recap
Holiday blues affect each of us for different reasons. Life is complicated. Heartbreaking situations may seem unsolvable. We have to be proactive in offsetting depression during the holidays where the blues can be felt more acutely. The first step is acknowledging that we “are” feeling blue and why. Admit it at least to yourself and then pray about it. Our heavenly Father is full of compassion and wisdom to help us in our time of need. Set specific goals to help overcome the holiday blues. Don’t go it alone. Life is worth living even if we get stuck sometimes and need another’s help to get through. You CAN lessen and overcome the holiday blues by giving some of these tips a try.
Share this with a friend who may be going through a difficult time and help them overcome the holiday blues. I am sure they will remember the kindness and encouragement you shared with them during the holidays.
Good things to think about and try.
I think so. Holiday Blues are real and you never know what a simple act of kindness or encouragement can do for someone!