Ever feel like the holidays turn into a pressure cooker of stress, chaos, and unmet expectations? You’re not alone—but what if I told you joy isn’t something you need to find, it’s something you need to recognize?

In this episode, Dr. Shahana Alibhai shares the surprisingly simple tools to help us ditch the holiday overwhelm and stretch the joy already hidden in plain sight. Dr. Alibhai, a TEDx speaker, family physician, and bestselling author of Feel Better, shared her wisdom on navigating emotions, sidestepping holiday traps, and embracing joy in the chaos.

“We do not suffer from a lack of joy, simply a lack of recognizing it,” she said, hitting the nail on the head. Together, we explored how to create authentic happiness amid the holiday hustle. Let’s dive into the key takeaways from this insightful episode!

Summary

• We often misinterpret our emotions, labeling them as good or bad.
• Recognizing joy requires intentionality and mindfulness.
• Joy stretching helps elongate moments of happiness.
• Productivity should not replace our pursuit of joy.
• Modeling emotional awareness for children is crucial.
• Rupture and repair in relationships is essential for emotional growth.
• Gratitude can shift your perspective during challenging times.
• Emotional awareness is a skill that can be developed over time.

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