The holiday season can be a time of joy, celebration, and connection—but it can also be a significant source of stress. This year in particular has been a time of high emotions and conflict for many families. Family dynamics are being exasperated by a lot of division and uncertainty in our world. While the scope of things we can’t control can feel overwhelming, there are some things within our control that we can focus our energy on.

Self-care has received a lot of attention over the last several years and yet when I ask people if they have been taking care of themselves, the answer I often get is something like, “I mean I got a massage last week.” And sometimes that is the answer at best. Learning to take care of yourself is much more about cultivating and practice of self reflection rather than a list of things you can do to pamper yourself – and of course we recommend pampering yourself whenever possible too. ;)

Our thoughts matter. As therapists, we are consistently talking to clients about being kind to themselves, having self-compassion and loving and nurturing ourselves. There is actual research* that shows that uplifting and encouraging messages can change the molecular structure of water… on average the human body is 60% water. Our thoughts and feelings toward ourselves literally have the ability to change the way we feel and the state of our bodies.