This week my inbox and newsfeed is full of two kinds of messages.
Joyful, celebratory, excited ones welcoming the end of a tricky year, heralding the coming festive season, and encouraging me to jump feet first into the revelry.
And those acknowledging that this time of the year can be laborious, lonely and hard for many people.
It’s certainly a time of the year when there are a lot of feelings swinging alongside the baubles and tinsel. Celebration, connection, loss and isolation all feel amplified as we approach the end of the year.
The strange thing is that sometimes we feel we can only experience these things independently
Here’s the thing…
Life is a constant Venn Diagram of contrasting emotions (remember those from primary school?!). We can experience two opposing thoughts, feelings or experiences at the same time.
You can crave rest but also wish for more work.
You can be joyful but also feel deep sadness.
You can experience loss but also intense relief.
You can feel enormously stressed but also extremely energised all at the one time (this one’s for my retail and hospitality folks!).
We don’t need to spend energy denying the opposing realities, instead simply acknowledge they co-exist. Sometimes we hold both sides together, sometimes they overlap and sometimes they’re held separately.
If Christmas or the end of year is raising big feelings for you please reach out or open up to a trusted professional or friend.
Here’s to getting through all the things
Bel
Please join me for my ponderings through this weekly email. Here’s the thing is a personal note of encouragement – reflection, inspiration, stories, and sharing. It’s our way of connecting and helping you prepare for the week ahead. https://lnkd.in/gMBb77gU
📸 facilitating a session at the Journey to Wellness Retreat photography by Suzanne Elliott Photography
Getting through all the things
