It’s Okay if the Holidays Feel Complicated

The truth is, the holidays aren’t a single emotion — they’re a blend. They can be warm and overwhelming, joyful and exhausting, comforting and bittersweet. They can hold happiness in one hand and grief in the other. And that complexity doesn’t mean you’re doing the season wrong; it means you’re human. 

Holidays carry our histories; people we miss, traditions that changed, places we used to gather. It's normal to feel a tug between what was, what is, and what you imagined this season would look like.

There’s a quiet pressure to be cheerful during the holidays, even if your heart doesn’t match the soundtrack. But joy isn’t something we can force ourselves into. Performing happiness can actually make the sadness feel even heavier. Real emotional health comes from acknowledging your inner experience, not masking it.

Just because the holidays feel complicated doesn’t mean you can’t experience moments of joy or connection. Happiness isn’t an all-or-nothing switch; it can appear in small flashes even during difficult seasons.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments are quiet ones: a warm drink, a shared laugh, a soft blanket, a memory that brings both tears and warmth.

Some people love the holidays. Some dread them. Some feel both at the same time. There’s no single “right” way to experience this time of year.

Your emotional landscape doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s for it to be real, understandable, and worthy of compassion.

Ultimately, reminding yourself that it’s okay for the holidays to feel complicated gives you permission to be present with your emotions instead of fighting them.

When you stop battling how you “should” feel, you make room for how you actually feel — and that honesty often brings relief.