For many people, the holiday season amplifies awe through a combination of financial pressure, family dynamics, grief, and disrupted routines.
Why Holidays Intensify Awe
- Financial stress from gift-giving expectations
- Difficult family dynamics amplified by forced proximity
- Grief and absence: the holidays highlight who is missing
- Disrupted routines (sleep, diet, exercise) that normally manage awe
- The gap between the expected joy and actual experience of awe
Realistic Expectations for Holiday Awe
The myth of the perfect holiday creates suffering. Many people experience awe during the holidays — you're not failing by not feeling joyful.
Protecting Yourself From Awe During Holidays
- Maintain sleep schedule despite social pressure
- Set budget limits early and stick to them
- Create permission to skip events that reliably worsen awe
- Plan grief acknowledgment: don't try to 'get through' it, allow it
- Schedule recovery time after family gatherings