It’s okay to not be joyful around Christmas time

We’re supposed to be joyful around Christmas, right? Despite what’s going on in our lives we feel pressure to be jolly. But sometimes we just can’t fake it. And that’s okay.

Society puts a lot of pressure on us to put on a smile and be “merry and bright” during the holidays. We’re magically supposed to be happy and in a good mood on Christmas no matter what’s going on in our lives. But sometimes it’s hard to pretend that everything is okay. That it’s okay to feel sad, even on holidays.

It’s okay not to feel festive. It’s okay not to feel happy. Just as equally it’s okay to enjoy yourself! People seem to have a real love-or-hate relationship with this time of year.

For some people, this time of the year is really difficult. If you’ve recently lost a loved one and it’s your first Christmas without them, it’s perfectly normal and healthy to be sad. You miss them, and not being able to share such a wonderful time of the year with someone you love makes it harder to feel that Christmas joy. You might even feel guilty when feeling happy. And that’s normal. Maybe you lost your job a few weeks ago. Maybe you’re battling anxiety or depression. Maybe a relationship fell apart and you’re still trying to figure out what your life looks like right now. A lot of different things can happen that will take away the joy of Christmas. And that’s okay.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself just because everyone else appears to be having fun. Remember, your feelings are valid.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t find joy. Noticing what we still have in our lives can make it possible to cope with Christmas and enjoy the festive season. Appreciate the people you have in your life now. Christmas is a time of coming together with those you love. Even if they aren’t perfect, if you have family or friends to be with during the holidays, you are blessed. You really don’t know when the last time you’ll see someone.