December tells us we’re supposed to be joyful. Social media is glowing, group chats are full of cheer, and everything feels wrapped in pressure to be merry. But what if your real life doesn’t match the highlight reel?

In this episode, we’re talking about the emotional weight of the holidays—the comparison, the grief, the stress, the loneliness, the exhaustion, and the quiet sadness that often gets hidden behind twinkling lights and forced smiles.

We dive into:

• Why there’s so much pressure to pretend everything is joyful in December

• How comparison culture hits hardest during the holidays

• Why social media makes it feel like everyone else is doing it “right”

• What it looks like to give yourself real permission to not be okay

• We also share a small, practical way to create comfort this week—without forcing happiness or fake cheer.

If your holidays feel heavy, complicated, or emotionally mixed, this episode is for you. Your holiday doesn’t need to be picture-perfect. It just needs to be honest.

Final Reminder:

Your feelings are not a problem to fix — they’re a story to listen to.