Finding Light When the Holidays Feel Heavy

Let us know what you enjoy about the show! As joyful as the season is meant to be, the holidays can quietly carry a lot of weight — expectations, pressure, comparison, and the sense that we’re somehow supposed to feel more festive than we do. In this episode, I share an excerpt from my book The Places Where There Are Spaces, a short reflection called “Holiday Hangovers.” It’s a story about noticing how easily we slip into expectation, how quickly joy can turn into self-pressure, and how gently everything can shift when we pause long enough to return to ourselves. Through a moment of honesty, a little humor, and a reminder about the quiet power of presence, this episode invites you to soften your grip on “how it’s supposed to be” and reconnect with what’s already here. ✨ You don’t need to do more to be worthy of joy. ✨ You don’t need to perform the season perfectly. ✨ The light you’re looking for already lives within you. At the end, I offer a simple reflection you can return to anytime this season — a small doorway back to gratitude, ease, and self-compassion. If this resonates, you can find The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating a Life of Creative Possibilities wherever books are sold. If you are enjoying the show please subscribe, share and review! Word of mouth is incredibly impactful and your support is much appreciated! Support the show 🌟✨📚 **Buy 'The Places Where There Are Spaces: Cultivating A Life of Creative Possibilities'** 📚✨🌟 Dive into a world where spontaneity leads to creativity and discover personal essays that inspire with journal space to reflect. Click the link below to grab your copy today and embark on a journey of self-discovery and unexpected joys! 🌈👇 🔗 Purchase Your Copy Here: https://a.co/d/2UlsmYC 🌟 **Interested in finding out more about working with Lisa Hopkins? Want to share your feedback or be considered as a guest on the show?** 🔗 Visit Wide Open Stages https://www.wideopenstages.com 📸 **Follow Lisa on Instagram:** @wideopenstages https://www.instagram.com/wideopenstages/ 💖 **SUPPORT THE SHOW:** [Buy Me a Coffee] https://www.buymeacoffee.com/STOPTIME 🎵 **STOPTIME Theme Music by Philip David Stern** 🔗 [Listen on Spotify] https://open.spotify.com/artist/57A87Um5vok0uEtM8vWpKM?si=JOx7r1iVSbqAHezG4PjiPg