More Than Merry: Finding Connection, Belonging & Joy This Season

Good morning, Cadre world. And today is Wednesday. It is definitely breezy and it is cold. And I tell you what, I have not seen you all in a couple of weeks and it's because I had to take out some time for self care due to a recent surgery. But I tell you what, I am so happy. Good morning. Now. I am so happy to be back. I was able to take some time to focus on me, my physical and mental health, getting back through the motions and reminding myself of that sense of gratitude. Because sometimes those things that we do on a daily basis.

Good morning, Jocelyn. We tend to take for granted. And then it's like, man, you know, I have to rely on others for all the simple things in life. And it just reminds us of our sense of gratitude, being thankful for the things that we do have as opposed to the things that we don't have. And it's so perfect as we move into the month of December because as you know, December, we are focusing on our mental wellness, our personal growth, but then our ability to reflect. So for some of you who may be joining for the first time, I am Dr.

Jessica Green and I am a licensed therapist along the Grand Strand in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. But I'm also licensed in Florida, North Carolina. I am a supervisor for lpca. So those individuals who are just getting their feet wet into the counseling world. And then I also serve as a CEU provider for South Carolina as we move along in transition, focusing on those best practices and strategies we can use to be the best clinician. So today, as I mentioned, we're going to talk about personal growth, mental well being, but then also our sense of gratitude.

So as we step into this holiday season, I want to talk about three words that hold incredible power. All right, so if you're in your office, you can write this down, Write it down. If you are in your car, let's focus on the driving. And if you're not able to write it down, you're busy, you have those, you know, earpieces in and we're listening as we're doing other tasks, as we always do, then I want you to make sure that you go back and listen to it. All right, so the three things that we're going to focus on today is that sense of connection, that sense of belonging, and then also our ability to celebrate those large and those small wins.

So now the holidays can be a mix of emotions, right? For some it's joy and it's excitement. But then for others, it's exhaustion. It could be grief as we're thinking about family during the holiday season, but then also that sense of loneliness, you know, and when we talk about grief, we talk about exhaustion, and we talk about loneliness, we can definitely hit on all three. Good morning. Speak, wonder. But no matter what we are carrying, I love what we're going to talk about today because it is a reminder that you can nurture deeper with your relationships.

We can nurture deeper with others, but also within ourselves when we talk about that intrinsic motivation and with those ways, they also give us strength when we're talking about our mental health and also when we talk about our personal growth. So when we think about connection. All right, so connection isn't just about being around people. It's feeling seen, and it's also feeling valued. It's being with people who understand you without you needing to perform. And that is going to be crucial, especially when we talk about that sense of belonging as opposed to that sense of fitting in.

But then when we tend to second guess ourselves when we're sitting at that table with other individuals, when we feel like, am I worthy to sit at this table? So many of us, we spend the holidays doing what's expected, right? We show up out of obligation instead of intention. And we know it is the holiday season. So everybody's having a Christmas party. Everyone is having a Christmas celebration. Our kids are having those concerts. So we feel like, I have to be there. I have to be there. I have to be there.

I have to be there. But what if this year you focus on connecting differently, right? And we ask ourselves, what does that look like? All right, so try this, you know, try calling a friend that you've been meaning to check on. You know, send a message of gratitude to someone who has helped you throughout the year. And I tell you what, writing those personal messages means the world to people, as opposed to, oh, let me type this on the computer and print this and send it. But whenever you write those letters, they have that personal touch.

And that personal meaning also share space, you know, even if it's brief, share the space with those who bring you peace and don't feel like they bring on that pressure. And here's something powerful that I want you to think about reminding ourselves that it begins with us when we talk about that sense of connection. So before you can connect deeply with others, we have to be able to connect with ourselves. So I want you to ask yourself, how do I want to feel this season? And yes, as we go through life, we go through those seasons, what do I need to create that feeling?

You know, not that feeling of sadness, not that sense of grief, but that feeling of excitement. And when you're grounded within yourself and you have that self awareness, it allows you to be able to show up even more authentically. And that's going to be a key word again, when we talk about that sense of fitting in and that sense of belonging, make sure you are in an arena where you can be your true, authentic self. It allows you to listen better, it allows you to love better, and it allows you to connect better.

All right, so we're going to move into that sense of belonging. Yes, and I'm so glad you love these. And, you know, we talk about that sense of connection. That sense of connection can take place anywhere. It can take place at the gas station, it can take place at, you know, your local Walmart, the mall, those simple places where we see individuals. And even if we just say, hey, how are you doing? How's your day? Oh my gosh, it's freezing outside. You're building that sense of connection and creating that sense of commonality.

So when we talk about belonging, to belonging is more than again, fitting in. And you've been hearing that word a lot today. It's the feeling of being accepted exactly as you are. It's knowing that you don't have to shrink or perform to feel loved. But here is something that I want you to think about. During the holidays, many people feel they practically the exact opposite. Maybe you've lost someone. Maybe family dynamics are pretty hard at this time, you know, and even with families, oh, we're going to Aunt Sally's, we're going to, you know, another aunt during the holidays.

And you have that aunt or you have that sibling, no, won't you come to my house? You know, or even with gift giving. But it's that sense of friction sometimes when it comes to family, friends and even colleagues. Or maybe you just feel out of place even when that room is full of people. So belonging doesn't have to come from a perfect family or flawless gatherings. It can be found in smaller, more intentional and more intimate spaces. Even in a group of friends who understand your story, who understand your faith in your community and that individual or that group that welcomes you, or even in those moments where you can reflect quietly and that also reminds you who you are when you practice essence of mindfulness.

So when we talk about mental wellness, belonging is essential. It is one of the strongest protectors against depression and also anxiety. Especially when we talk about the holiday season, when we feel that we belong, our stress Drops, our confidence rises and our emotional resilience grows. And it allows us to be able to move forward to that next level. So I want you to ask yourself, where do I feel the most like myself? Because that's where your belonging lives. When you have that ability to be your authentic self, that's where you should spend your time this season.

In those spaces that honor your truth, but they don't drain your peace. So lastly, celebration. So when you hear that word, celebrate, you might think of parties, decorations, or even gifts. But real celebration, it's a little deeper than that. It's gratitude in motion. And when I say that, it is about pausing to say these simple words, I made it through something hard. I learned something about myself and recognizing, hey, I am still growing. So maybe you set boundaries this year, all right? And that's something that we all need to consider.

And maybe you've learned to say no. Or maybe you got through a season that almost broke you. And all of these deserve celebrations. So as we go into 2026, I want you to create your own rituals. Whether it's lighting a candle for someone you missed, whether it's writing a letter, taking a quiet moment to walk and reflect on the year that is now behind you, or even cooking your favorite meal, or going to your favorite restaurant where you are doing it just for you. Because when you redefine what celebration means, you reclaim your joy.

And that is definitely something worth protecting. So as we close and we move through the holiday season, I want you to remember these three truths. Connections keep you grounded. Belonging reminds you that you are never alone. And celebrations, they honor the growth that got you here to this moment. Your mental wellness isn't about doing more, doing, going. It's about noticing more. And when I say noticing more, it's noticing who fills your spirit and who fills your cup, and making sure that these moments bring you peace and what joy already exists in your world as we're focusing on that sense of gratitude, being thankful for the things that we do have, opposed to things that we do not have.

So I want you to continue to take that deep breath. I want you to continue to call someone, and I want you to continue to reflect on how far you have come this year. Remember, you belong here, and that's worth celebrating. So until we see each other next time, I am wishing you peace. I am wishing you connection, and I am wishing you joy.