Comparing ourselves to an idea of what the holidays “should” look like can set us up for failure and disappointment. Take a step back to consider your values and what is actually important to you.
What holidays “should” look like
There are many social pressures and ideas around what a “perfect” holiday should look like — whether it’s having a perfect cookie-making experience with the kids, or having a perfectly decorated house, or volunteering at your kid’s school holiday party, or sending out the perfect Christmas card on time with everyone in matching outfits.
Some of these expectations are curated by marketers to get you to buy what they have to sell you the perfect holiday experience. Other expectations are set by social media influencers or by our own friends and family. We might look around and compare ourselves to what our sibling-in-law is doing and think that they’re doing it so much better, or look back on our childhood memories with rose-tinted lenses and think about how our parents did it so much better when we were younger.
A recipe for disappointment
The disconnect between what we think the holidays “should” look like and how holidays actually look in reality set us up for angst and disappointment. It creates feelings of not being good enough, or not living up to your standards.
Having a nice dinner just doesn’t feel special. Getting through a family dinner without deep, meaningful conversation isn’t good enough.
Look at the holidays differently
It is important to take a step away from external pressures and expectations and consider what is actually important to you. If your values are lifelong learning, or faith, or relationships — focus on these values instead of external values like perfect clothing, or the perfect experiences, or the perfect food.
Interventions including ketamine treatment can help you untangle deeply rooted traumas around performance, self-worth, and being “good enough.” This may be particularly helpful around the holidays to help you manage the pressures of external expectations and refocus on what is important to you.
We encourage you to shift your perspective away from perfection and toward your values, and toward simply surviving the holidays. Set a goal of peace and contentment, rather than perfection.
About Us
Wells Medicine is a Houston-based practice designed to provide meaningful care for mental health. Providing targeted interventional treatments for Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, with Ketamine Treatments, Stellate Ganglion Blocks, TMS, and Nitrous-Oxide Treatments. Focused on comprehensive care and integration with Psychiatry, Psychology, and Support Services. We are evidence-based, patient-focused and mission-driven.
The content here is for informational purposes and should not be relied upon for medical decisions. For the details of your specific medical conditions and treatments consult your doctors or other qualified healthcare professionals.
