18 12 月 All is Calm; All is Bright: Managing Your Mental Health at Christmastime

This is a guest blog post by Greater Mankato Growth member, Christian Family Solutions.

Christmas lights are shining in the streets, holiday music is on the radio, and there are joyous celebration ads on television.  It appears that everyone is happy this time of the year. 

Perhaps you are feeling happiness and hope; maybe you are feeling sadness and disappointment.  Perhaps you are feeling both.  It is critical to take time to slow down, pause, and identify and acknowledge whatever you are feeling without pressuring yourself or feeling guilty if you are not feeling a certain way.  Every feeling, whether pleasant or not, has a cause and purpose.  Suppressing or ignoring them does not allow them to guide your behavior or influence your decisions.