Challenges are a completely normal part of life, we all know that. They help us build resilience. They help us become stronger and wiser. They help us grow.

That doesn’t make them easier to navigate. Especially during the holidays.

This time of year can make normal, everyday challenges so much harder. Past holidays can look perfect in hindsight, and the present can totally fall short. The cost of travel, presents, and decorating can be insane. We love our family and friends, but those relationships can be seriously stressful. Or, we may not have family and friends to spend the holidays with. Maybe we don’t get along with them. Maybe we’ve just drifted apart. Or maybe they’re gone.

It’s okay to feel sad. It’s okay to feel like it’s hard. It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to feel alone.

You’re human. And sometimes, just getting through the day is a challenge.

I hope these affirmations help you to lean into the challenges, breathe through them, and come out the other side a little stronger, a little wiser, a little more resilient. 

And just a little better.