Holiday Emotion Exploration Worksheet

Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

The holiday season can bring up many different feelings. Let's explore some of yours!

Part 1: Your Holiday Feelings

1. List three emotions you often feel during the holiday season. These can be positive, negative, or a mix of both.

   • Emotion 1:
     
     
     
   • Emotion 2:
     
     
     
   • Emotion 3:
     
     
     

2. For each emotion you listed above, briefly explain why you think you feel that way. What specific situations, people, or expectations might contribute to these feelings?

   • Emotion 1 Explanation:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Emotion 2 Explanation:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Emotion 3 Explanation:
     
     
     
     
     
     

Part 2: Triggers and Expectations

1. Think about past holiday experiences. What is one specific situation or event that has made you feel stressed, sad, or overwhelmed during the holidays?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Where do your expectations for the holidays come from? (e.g., social media, movies, family traditions, friends, your own desires)
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. How might these expectations impact your emotions during the holidays?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Personal Reflection

1. Is there anything about the holidays that you sometimes wish was different, emotionally speaking?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one positive aspect of the holiday season that consistently brings you joy or contentment?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Holiday Emotions Discussion Guide

Instructions: In your small groups, use these questions to guide your discussion. Remember to listen respectfully to each other's experiences and perspectives. There are no right or wrong answers, only shared understanding.

Part 1: Sharing & Connecting

1. Take turns sharing one or two emotions you identified on your Holiday Emotion Exploration Worksheet. Did anyone feel similarly or differently?
   
   
   

2. What were some of the reasons behind those emotions? Did you discover any common triggers or situations that bring up certain feelings during the holidays?
   
   
   
   
   

3. Was there anything surprising that you wrote down or realized while completing the worksheet?
   
   
   

Part 2: Broadening Perspectives

1. How might social media or advertising influence how people think they should feel during the holidays?
   
   
   
   
   

2. Can you think of ways that family traditions or expectations, even well-intentioned ones, might put pressure on individuals and affect their emotions?
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why do you think it's important to acknowledge and talk about all emotions, not just the happy ones, during the holiday season?
   
   
   
   
   

Part 3: Looking Forward

1. Based on your discussion, what's one thing you've learned or had clarified about holiday emotions?
   
   
   
   
   

2. Without giving specific personal details, what is one idea for how someone could better manage a challenging holiday emotion this year?
   
   
   
   
   

Holiday Coping Strategies Activity

Instructions: Now that we've talked about different holiday emotions, let's think about how we can manage them in healthy ways. For each scenario or emotion below, brainstorm at least two healthy coping strategies.

Part 1: Scenario Solutions

Think about these common holiday situations and suggest ways to navigate the emotions they might bring.

1. Scenario: Your family is planning a big holiday dinner, and you know there will be relatives there who often ask really personal or uncomfortable questions.

   • Emotion(s) this might trigger: Stress, anxiety, annoyance.
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 1:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 2:
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. Scenario: You see all your friends posting pictures of their amazing holiday gifts and trips on social media, and you start to feel like your own holidays aren't as exciting or special.

   • Emotion(s) this might trigger: Envy, sadness, inadequacy.
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 1:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 2:
     
     
     
     
     
     

3. Scenario: You're feeling overwhelmed by school assignments, holiday preparations, and extracurricular activities, and you feel like you have no time for yourself.

   • Emotion(s) this might trigger: Overwhelm, stress, exhaustion.
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 1:
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • Healthy Coping Strategy 2:
     
     
     
     
     
     

Part 2: Personal Application

1. Recall an emotion you identified on your Holiday Emotion Exploration Worksheet that you find challenging. What is one specific, actionable coping strategy you could try for that emotion this holiday season?

   • Challenging Emotion:
     
     
     
   • Coping Strategy:
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. What is one thing you can do for yourself before the holiday season officially begins to help prepare your emotional well-being?

   • Pre-Holiday Self-Care Idea: