Emotion #7: Sadness vs. Happiness | How to Be Happy During the Holidays

Emotion #7: Sadness vs. Happiness | How to Be Happy During the Holidays 

We are over halfway through with the 12 emotions of Christmas. Christmas is rapidly approaching, and it can be easy to get bogged down by focusing on what could be better. That’s why the seventh emotion of Christmas is sadness. 

Sadness can have a snowball effect. You might start out being sad about one thing, but before you know it, there’s a whole laundry list of things you wish were better. 

 

Serving with a Smile 

Years ago when our children were younger our family was invited to sign at a nursing home. I was excited about the opportunity to serve, but my husband Gary and the kids had other thoughts. Gary was to play the piano and the kids were to sing. He was not confident in his piano playing and did not want to go. 

We got everybody together and ready to sing much to their dismay. They put on a great performance and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I loved seeing the smiles they brought to the faces of those in the nursing home. 

After the performance was over, we found out that it was actually a nursing home for deaf individuals. So while my children and Gary were stressed about their talents and abilities to sing and play, the audience couldn’t even hear the notes! They could feel the vibrations in the floor and that was enough to bring them joy. 

So much stress and worry was caused for no reason! Everyone enjoyed themselves and we had a good laugh about it later. I loved the opportunity to serve as a family. 

It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the holidays, but really take the time to focus on what you do have. When you make the choice to focus on the good, your entire mindset will shift. 

I want to encourage you with three tips on how to keep your holidays happy. 

 

• Focus on the true meaning of Christmas.  

 

The reason we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Savior. Jesus, the Son of God, was born of the virgin Mary to live a sinless life on Earth and to die on a cross for our sins. Christmas is meant to celebrate His birth! It’s not about gifts or the right decorations or the perfect picture, but it’s easy to let that become our focus. 

Spend some time in the Word of God each day during this season. Even if all you think you have to spare is a few minutes, it’s worth it. Time in the Word of God can shift your entire day, but you have to make it a priority! 

 

• It’s not about getting; it’s about giving.  

 

When we think of Christmas, we often associate it with gifts. Giving and receiving gifts is a huge part of Christmas, but the perfect gift isn’t everything. Looking outside of ourselves is what brings happiness. 

There are lots of ways to give during the holiday season. This year giving might look a little different due to COVID-19, but there are still many needs to be met. 

Here are some ideas of how to give this Christmas: 

• Donate to a food drive 
• Buy Christmas gifts for a family in need 
• Check out your local church, charities, and organizations to see what you can help with. 
•  Don’t forget to laugh  

 

 

When you start feeling the stress and sadness of the holidays, laugh! Laughter is good medicine. When you are frustrated trying to make everything perfect, ask yourself if it’s something that will matter in 10 years. Will your children remember the perfect decor you used that year or will they remember playing games and watching Christmas movies with you? 

Don’t forget to make family time a priority. The holidays are meant to bring us together, but the stress can tear us apart. 

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength” (Proverbs 17:22, NLT). 

A key to keeping your holiday stress down is to avoid overspending. Set a budget ahead of time with your spouse and determine what you are comfortable spending. Then stick to it! 

It can be tempting to want to get the latest and greatest gifts, especially for your children and loved ones, but the pain it will cause later isn’t worth it. Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean you need to buy it. 😉 You will feel much more peace and freedom by staying in your budget. Don’t start your new year off shaky with credit card bills. Make the decision ahead of time and don’t overspend! 

There are also lots of memorable things to do that don’t cost a ton of money. Do you enjoy baking? Have your kids join in! The cookies may not look as neat and perfect as normal, but your kids will have fun being a part of the process. Play games, or watch a Christmas movie at home. The memories will create a much more lasting impact than the gifts received. 

Bring joy to your holiday season. Don’t create unnecessary stress! Focus on giving, taking care of what you can control, and making memories. Spend time in the Word of God to keep your focus right and trust that it will all work out for the best.