The holidays are a season of celebration, gathering, joy, and togetherness. But, for many of us, they can also bring pressure to show up a certain way, to please others, to keep traditions alive even when they no longer fit who we are. However, our reality and energy do not necessarily match the demands of the environment in which we live.
Last December, I stood in my kitchen staring at an invitation, already exhausted before the day had even begun… Have you ever felt pressured to attend a party or participate in an activity just because you were invited? If this resonates with you, you are not alone. I have been there, whether it is to maintain peace, a sense of belonging, or simply to avoid explaining our state of mind.
Honoring ourselves on the journey to authentic living asks something different of us. To move forward, we need to lean inward and to honor ourselves through our values, alongside the people we love. Here are five gentle reminders for staying true to yourself during the holiday season and continuing this journey to Live2BYou:
1- Practice Gratitude Without Ignoring Your Reality
Let’s begin with gratitude. Gratefulness is powerful! However, it is not to be used to ignore or cover our pain or struggles.
For a long time, I was taught and believed that being grateful meant focusing only on the good in my life. Also, acknowledging sadness, grief, disappointment, or exhaustion was complaining and somehow made me ungrateful. So I minimized some of my feelings and kept trying to remind myself of how blessed I was while quietly silencing and carrying everything else alone.
What I’ve had to learn and embrace is that true gratitude doesn’t ask us to pretend. We can appreciate what’s good while acknowledging what’s challenging. Authentic gratitude holds space for the full truth of your experience, not just the polished parts.
2- Set Boundaries to Avoid Holiday Overwhelm
Calendars are filled up, and you may be trying to fit one more event. Do you ever check your emotional state when you look at it? Are you excited or dreading those events?
Saying no didn’t come naturally. It still doesn’t, honestly. Some days, it feels just as hard as ever. It often comes with the weight of guilt attached, worrying about letting others down or seeming ungrateful. But as you must have experienced, overcommitting always came at a cost. For me, when I overcommit, I show up tired, distracted, and disconnected from moments I actually wanted to enjoy.
Honoring yourself might at times mean simply saying no or leaving space in your schedule. It might mean choosing wisely how to spend your time and energy so you can fully enjoy each experience. You don’t need a dramatic reason to say no or to rest, as I have learned that rest doesn’t need to be earned.
3- Prioritize Your Needs Without Guilt
It’s easy during the holidays to shrink ourselves, to smile through discomfort, to stay quiet to avoid tension, to tell ourselves our needs can wait until later.
I don’t know for you all, but each time I silenced myself, my body noticed, and yours has too. The tight shoulders, shallow breaths, and that lingering sense of unease are our bodies trying to get our attention to honor ourselves.
Your needs aren’t too much. They aren’t inconvenient. They are signals, a reminder that we exist and matter. The holidays are about everybody, including ourselves. You’re allowed to take up space and be yourself and honor your needs in truth and grace.
4- Share Your Gifts in Ways That Align With You
The holidays are a time for giving and sharing. There is not one way to do it that can lead to tremendous joy. There are times we give out of duty or simply out of the goodness of our hearts. Regardless of what you are sharing, time, energy, or presence, you want to be in tune with yourself to not feel depleted to ensure continuity.
Honoring yourself means sharing your gifts in ways that feel right, honest, and in alignment with your values. Sometimes your greatest gifts are your honesty or your presence, or simply knowing when to step back. Sharing your gifts in alignment with your true self brings everyone joy and a true sense of togetherness.
5- Practice Gentle Rituals to Replenish Your Energy
The holidays are demanding and loud with noise, gatherings, and expectations. We are often stretched thin and may even feel exhausted or burned out, and still won’t accept it, let alone remediate. That’s why it is crucial to have practices to take care of and replenish ourselves.
For me, it’s often quiet moments: sitting alone before the day starts, journaling without an agenda, taking a slow walk, taking a bath, or lighting a candle in the evening. Usually the same candle that smells faintly like eucalyptus. Nothing fancy. Nothing to perform.
These small rituals remind me that no matter how busy the season I’m in may be, I owe it to myself and my loved ones to honor myself.
A Gentle Reminder as You Move Through the Season
You will survive an imperfect holiday, but you won’t survive ignoring yourself for long.
You don’t have to honor yourself perfectly this holiday season. You won’t always get it right, and that’s okay. You don’t even have to get it right every time. But, you have to honor yourself even with one intentional choice, one honest boundary, one quiet choice to listen inward at a time. That is enough to bring you back to your authentic self.
Wherever you are this season, may you meet yourself there with grace, compassion, honesty, and kindness.
With warmth,
Jasleyv
Writer. Seeker. Believer in little blessings.
🌿 Live fully. Be true. Be you.
Thank you so very Much Jasleyv. I really like your writings and tips about the holidays … well written, deep, relevant and inspiring. Your personalized , genuine approach are a breath of fresh air …. They feel human!
Happy Holidays ❤️
Remembering that rest doesn’t need to be earned is a powerful reminder during the busy holiday season.
I absolutely love these! The holidays are a time of year when I completely forego any kind of self-care. I really needed to see this.
Hi Beth,
The holidays have a way of pulling us outward, sometimes at the cost of ourselves. I’m grateful this reminded you gently that you matter too.
This resonates with me so much…it’s a great reminder to slow down and enjoy what matters most about this special time.
Hi Nicole,
Thank you 🤍 This time of year can be full, but it’s often in the slowing down that we rediscover what truly matters. I’m glad this resonated with you.
Such a beautiful reminder. This is the perfect time of year to slow down and think of ways to take care of yourself and honor yourself. This reminds me I need to take time for myself for rest as well.
Hi Ebony,
I love how you said honor yourself, that’s so important, especially during this time of year. Rest is not something we earn; it’s something we need. May rest be one of your gifts this year.