The “Happy” in Holidays

This is the time of year we plan to be happy on purpose. We hide gifts, we cook food, we prepare to see family. For sufferers of anxiety and depression, this is good practice. Planning to be happy on purpose is something you can do for any event of the year, not just holidays.

My real point to make here, however, is that it’s OK to feel happy for no reason at all. I was thinking about this during the weeks leading up to Christmas, many of which were rough, like really rough. I wasn’t even sure if “happy” was possible, under the circumstances. This renewed my resolve to make Christmas do something for me this year. If I didn’t do it on purpose, it would slip past me.

But in the middle of those rough weeks, I had a few moments of feeling happy. I almost questioned them. Was I allowed to feel happy? So many people are unhappy. So many of our futures are uncertain. Anxiety and depression can become such a norm that the opposite feels extravagant.

Let me tell you this: if you get lost in a moment and feel accidentally happy, take it. Your nervous system needs to know that you accept spontaneous moments of positive emotions. The truth of reality is that good and bad always coexist. Our minds may get wrapped up in a good day or a bad day and forget that the other exists. Give yourself room to hold both simultaneously, when you can. This will help you maintain balance in an uncertain world.