By Rebecca Hubbard
Eden Educator
The Eden Alternative
Are you overwhelmed by obligations, feeling like you have to be all things to all people – especially at this time of year? Do the holidays bring up tough feelings like grief or guilt? What would it look and feel like if you could clear some mental, emotional, and physical space for what matters most to you this season?
Comfort and Joy, or Chaos and Stress?
Imagine a holiday season that is in alignment with your well-being, where how you spend your limited time actually meets your needs. If that feels impossible, you’re not alone. November and December are complicated months for many of us. While they are framed as times for gratitude and joy, we may find ourselves experiencing much more complex emotions, including overwhelm, grief, resentment, and dread (and then guilt for feeling that way). These less-than-festive feelings can come from a personal history of loss and trauma, our unique cultural experiences and beliefs, the stresses and demands of our immediate reality, and so much more.
Layered on top of this emotional complexity is an often insurmountable sense of “holiday have to’s” – a perfect storm of obligations, expectations, urgencies, logistics – and maybe even some snow globe visions of what we “should” be doing. We may have more on our plate (both demands and things we want to do) than we can possibly manage. This can feel stressful at best, and crippling, paralyzing, or traumatizing at worst.
A Little Light Dispels Much Darkness
It is natural at these times to attempt triage: “What is the most urgent? What do I absolutely have to do next? What can I let go?” But by focusing on the what, we aren’t actually tapping into the heart of the issue. The solution lies not in examining the what but rather reflecting on the why.
Some Assembly Required
To be clear, this is not a holiday gimmick, cheap thrill, or quick fix. While it is a simple and universally applicable tool, it is one that calls upon us to look inside and connect with our feelings and needs. If that sounds a bit daunting, that’s ok! The beauty of this exercise is you can go at your own pace and depth.
Learn to embrace what brings you meaning and let go of what doesn’t serve you.
If you have questions or would like to share anything that came up for you with this post, please reach out to Rebecca Hubbard at bigowlinsight@gmail.com.
About Rebecca Hubbard:
Rebecca Hubbard is an Eden Educator and faculty member based in Denver, Colorado.
Rebecca has been working in eldercare, behavioral health, and organizational transformation for over 20 years. While studying at Harvard University, Rebecca changed her career path from law to healthcare after volunteering in several Boston care communities and seeing the urgent need for a more humane and effective approach. After exploring everything from administration to staff development to social work, her passion for well-being ultimately led her to the Eden Alternative. She is an Eden Educator and certified in Eden Empowered Teams. She currently writes and teaches courses on communication, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, and leadership.
About The Eden Alternative
Our Mission: To improve the well-being of Elders and their care partners by transforming the communities in which they live and work.
The Eden Alternative offers educational opportunities, consultation and a proven approach to honoring Elderhood, with resources for Elders and care partners to elevate well-being wherever they may live and work.
