Christmas is right around the corner. It is supposed to be a time of joy, peace, and happiness for everyone. It is a time to remember and reflect upon the amazing miracle of the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a time to reopen in our hearts the glorious gift of hope that our Father in Heaven gave to all mankind.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
It is a time of celebration. Why then, do many people experience the ‘Holiday Blues’?
It seems like it gets harder and harder for people to remember the true meaning behind the celebration of Christmas these days. We often effectively create adversity for ourselves during this time of year. We are inundated with commercialized images and high expectations of what a picture perfect Christmas is supposed to be. As a result, we add more stress to our lives over things that should not take priority in our lives, like fighting crowds and traffic congestion to get the best bargains on gifts. We place too much emphasis on what we give, rather than why we give. We send the wrong message to our children when we succumb to the latest toy craze year after year. We unknowingly create high (and often unrealistic) expectations, which, if they fail to be met, can often traumatize them for years and into adulthood. Of course, it is not necessarily over the toy that they didn’t get, but the expectation that failed to be fulfilled. These unrealized expectations can often create triggers during the holidays for other unresolved emotional issues that they may experience, and often might not be aware of, in later years. And so, the ‘Holiday Blues’ often comes to pass.
and who we were thankful to during Thanksgiving. Maybe, we never learned gratitude as children. If we are able to emanate an attitude of gratitude no matter what our circumstance, it is difficult to fret about what we lack. Please take a moment to read the blogs, “A Grateful Heart” and “Giving Thanks”. You will get a great overview on a bit of what Mormons are taught about the principle of gratitude.
So what can we do if we have the ‘Holiday Blues?’ If we choose to carry our gratitude for what we have into the Christmas season, we can carry with us the desire to share with others the spirit of Christmas, which is also the spirit of giving. We can give to others, and not have expectation of getting back something in return … not even their gratitude. We can give because we can, and we will give what we can. Take a moment to read, “The Best Gifts,” for a suggested list of some great gifts to think about.
But by far, the best thing that we can do to rid ourselves of the ‘Holiday Blues’ is to first, pray for a softened heart and a witness of the Holy Ghost. Then we should proceed to immerse ourselves in learning more about the life of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please go to lds.org, mormon.org, or mormonwiki.com. These websites offer valuable knowledge in an easy-to-read format.
Though we need to make that first step to increase knowledge and wisdom on our own, have comfort that there are resources there that have been created especially for those who choose to seek out that knowledge. Our Father in Heaven has been waiting for you to seek out your desire to be happy … in true happiness. Fight against your old resistances and struggles to learn the truth. See it, and experience it with your own eyes. Let your heart be humbled, let your mind be open, and let your faith find its true meaning.
