The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. But for a lot of us they come loaded with stress, complicated family dynamics, financial pressure, exhaustion, and a quiet grief for the people and moments we have lost along the way.

In this episode Marilyn gets honest about her own experience with holiday stress and shares the real practical strategies she uses to protect her peace when the holidays get complicated. Not generic advice. Actual tools you can put into action before, during, and after the hard moments.

Because how the holidays feel for you matters just as much as how they look to everyone else. And you are allowed to do things differently this year.

In this episode:

• Why the holidays are genuinely complicated for so many people and why that is okay to admit
• The reality of navigating difficult family dynamics and how to go in prepared
• The grief and longing that sit quietly underneath the holiday season for a lot of us
• The financial pressure of the holidays and why it is the thoughtfulness that matters not the price tag
• What to do when the holidays feel lonely even when you are surrounded by people
• How to use the bubble method when the pressure to make everything perfect feels like too much
• Seven specific and actionable coping tools including self talk, button pusher strategies, and exit planning

This week’s takeaway:

You have to do you. Protect your own mind and your own feelings because nobody else is going to do it for you. Go in prepared, have your strategies ready, and give yourself full permission to leave when you need to. How the holidays feel for you matters just as much as how they look to everyone else.

Come join the conversation:

Come talk about this one in our free Facebook community Put it in a Bubble Private Bubble. Find us at MarilynBarker.com.

If you are struggling:

You are not alone and you do not have to face this by yourself. If you are in crisis or feeling unsafe please reach out for help right away.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Call or text 988 anytime day or night. Free confidential support is available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.

Connect with Marilyn:

www.MarilynBarker.com

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