If You Feel Exhausted, Sad or Lonely Before the Holidays, You are Not Alone
I know it can feel like that if your circumstances have changed or even if you are surrounded by people, it’s possible to feel terribly isolated! Or that you don’t have any energy to lift your finger, but you need to keep yourself going. I know what you are going through and there's a way to feel better, keep reading :) I used to hate when someone said that you are never alone when I felt lonely, or when I was single and literally, alone! It felt like nothing I did or had was able to take that empty hole away. I had felt it since I was a little girl. I tried to numb it and fill my schedule up to avoid feeling it.
Once I chose to spend a Christmas alone.
And gosh… I enjoyed myself and walking the streets of Helsinki in the middle of a snowstorm.
Of course, everyone thought something was wrong. It was not easy to say, “no, I’m not coming,” but it felt like the right thing to do, for me.
This calm, happy but different Christmas happened after I had separated from a long relationship.
And after I almost burned my life completely down before I actually burned down.
I was overworked , overbusy, so overwhelmed and I drank too much. All that made me so overdrive that I struggled with insomnia and restlessness.
I felt out of control, and I had been sick all the time.
I had all the signs of burnout but I didn’t know what to do with it, and who could help.
I tried therapy but one talked about my biological clock, and another one said I needed new friends.
It made me feel even lonelier, and failed.
A lot of good came out of that crash, though.
I learned what it means to live in the present and use the power of the mind.
Meditation became my medication, my journal my best friend. I started reading books again.
I learned to feel my feelings, became aware of my thoughts in a new way, and realized I was not my mind.
I didn’t have to fill out my schedule with events, exhaust myself with energy-draining activities and people, or escape the empty or unhappy home anymore.
Through all that, I learned to be alone without feeling lonely.
That empty hole of longing, something I had searched in every corner of the world, was gone. It gave me reason and learned what was the meaning of life. All of this saved me, helped me heal and grow, and start making my dreams and visions real.
It was the birth of a purpose-driven career and created the foundation of the well-being that I have now.I got clarity on why it needed to happen, not to me but for me.
I remembered I know how to be alone and it’s quite nice to know no matter what, I have my own back. Do you feel that way, do you prioritize your needs? Or is it hard to stop?
Maybe you have gone through big changes in your life. Or maybe you didn’t reach all those goals you anticipated, things didn’t go as you wanted.
Maybe you forgot yourself and your well-being has been last on the list this year.
If you are not feeling that well.
It’s necessary to grieve all kinds of losses. Maybe you could give yourself permission to feel. Than pushing it all away.
Write down a list of disappointments or things that make you feel resentful, what feels unfair.
You are okay. Safe where you are with your feelings, and your thoughts.
Rest, recharge and let go of all that you need to let go to get back to balance, mentally and emotionally.
Only the bottled-up feelings dim your energy, so allow yourself to feel. Feeling and shifting your thoughts empowers you and helps you see the light and hope.Write down what you want to feel and experience in life, what you long for. Let those intentions become your visions for 2023.I'm wishing you happy holidays!
The Center of Excellence in Public Leadership at George Washington University (GW CEPL) offers programs for women at every level of their leadership journey to help address the early socialized habits, as well as the workplace and life challenges that often hold women back from pursuing increased responsibility, while supporting their growth and development.
Live online programs are known for their interactive discussions and networking among the participants, as well as its critical, career-changing content.
Click here to learn more: Women Leaders on the Rise Program (#WRISE) gives high-potential women leaders at the start of their careers the tools to enable management success, while addressing limiting beliefs that may be holding them back.
Executive Women’s Leadership Program (#EWLP) is designed for experienced executives who have potential for greater leadership responsibilities. Topics covered include executive presence, negotiations, resilience, growth mindset and more!
Global Women’s Leadership Program (#GWLP) provides game-changing leadership strategies that will transform your mindset and expand your sphere of influence as a woman leader. Program is designed for global executives.