How the Seasonal Blues Work

@Matthew Grant – I really think you’re one of the most interesting guys I have met. 2008 wouldn’t have been the same without you, minister.

If we all had the capacity to share our blue times like you, we would sail through them much more smoothly. It’s obvious that you are, in fact, fine.
Thanks for all you do

Having weathered 61 Holiday seasons, I can say that they bring with them a sense of loss, loneliness, and something-is-not-rightness along with their cheer and good tidings. It’s different from Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s centered around the holiday season, not just the winter season.

As Chris says, it’s a good time for self-evaluation, deep thinking, and getting your ship in order for the journeys of the new year.

Chris – i agree with you about embracing the feeling, which you’re def not alone in having. for me, things lighten up – literally – at Winter Solstice (Dec 21) when it starts to be light a minute longer every day. something about that is very comforting to me, even though it takes a couple of months to be really noticeable.

I’m wondering what changes for you on January 2nd?

Enjoyed your post. Very open and honest. And I go through much of the same thing so I can relate. Thanks for sharing – Colleen

Chris, thanks for yet again candidly sharing yourself with rest of us. And not, as you say the smiles and good will and power and passion, but all sides of you.

I get the seasonal blues every year as well. Sometimes worse than others. I don’t think I ever considered it the same way you have, that I need to feel this way to prepare me for the next year. Maybe I’ll try that this winter, accept it instead of suppress it.

Take care, and hope 2009 is an excellent year for you, pirates and all.

Chris – seasonal blues are a drag. But it’s really interesting – your comment on having uber large networks and being candid about your feelings/emotions/etc. Howard Stern did this on radio in the 80′s and 90′s and still today. He become real, opening the kimono and letting masses of people see in his head.

Cool to see someone have that type of power and reach on the web. (and you didn’t even need strippers and rock stars to get your audiences attention! ;) Props…

I’ve been feeling like poopie too.

Chris you’re awesome. Thanks for sharing. I’m with you as I get these spells sometimes as well. Accepting them for what they are and actually appreciating the feeling as something short-term has really made them less…well depressing. Almost a buzz from them. You and Vaynerchuk are great because you share what is real about yourselves. You also keep slogging along when crap isn’t going your way. This is inspiring. Takes away my excuses for slacking when times aren’t “perfect” for me.

Chris, thanks for posting this.

It’s something we all go through this time of the year – as people have mentioned, it sounds very much like Seasonal Affective Disorder (aka SAD – it’s an acronym that also doubles as a kind of half-sick psychology joke…ha).

It’s great that you turn this into constructivity, and find strength in it. You’re taking a bad thing and using it to your advantage, as you’ve mentioned. I can’t think of a better, more empowering remedy.

I applaud how brave you are for bringing this up and discussing it. As you can see, you’ve helped a few people on this thread already. “I thought I was the only one” is no more.

Knowing what it is, knowing that it’ll pass, being able to write this post… doesn’t necessarily help when you’re in it.

Take care of yourself.

Sorry to go from the sublime to the ridiculous – just to let you know that the text next to the tick-box for email sign up for the comments just says “a”

Chris, sometimes during a storm you have to tie yourself to the rigging and just ride it out – guaranteed the storm will end and you will resume sailing. Captaining pirate ships wouldn’t be challenging without the odd storm, makes us appreciate clear days – and helps us learn to tie damn good knots…

Hi Chris, at this time of year there’s a major downturn in our industry, it happens every year but this year is worse because of current economic conditions around the globe, people have more important things to think about…including Christmas. I always use this period of time to get my head down and work like a demon on my business, catching up with stuff that’s been neglected throughout the year and planning forward. I like to spring clean my business in December and this process helps me to get my head straight and lay out a clearly defined path for the new year. At the moment, the sun is shining and I’m upbeat. Interest rates are 2%, the lowest they’ve been since the 1950′s, petrol prices have dropped from £132 per litre to 88 pence per litre, there are discounts of up to 75% in some of our high street shops…hooray!

John O’Hara
United Kingdom

I do know the feeling…in Finland this time of year…ooooops, no thank you!
BUT I’m lucky and living now an expat-life in Egypt, more LIGHT, sun – energy/joy of my life!

I don’t have need for blue(s)…except every evening that ‘blue moment’ before sun’s going down…to rise again in the morning…

Chris, thanks for being open & honest…I respect your ‘courage’ to write from the perspective: ‘I’m not perfect, I’m human’ – like we all are!

I appreciate your openness, Chris. I’m going through some stuff right now as well, and it’s not exactly the same…but it’s nice to know I am not alone is a bit of seasonal struggle!

Our souls have a yearly cycle that follows the sun. Summer light takes us into the world and Winter darkness takes us into ourselves. Each of us reacts to this cycle in special ways and with special questions. Thanks for sharing your ways and your questions.
Should we really consider our unique ways and questions a disorder?
Yes, I often wish my soul was always sunny and filled with sweet declarations about the joys of life. Dwelling in darkness and struggling with questions is hard, often painful, but when I find a glimmer of light within, feel a gentle warmth and realize I found another truth about myself or the world, I celebrate an inner Christmas and the solstice rebirth of my inner sun.
You are so right about your Christmas question – how do I become a better person. I just gave a talk to the Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy on the therapeutic opportunities in Christmas. The two Christmas questions are “Am I worthy?” and “Am I resolved?” Have I been good enough? which asks us to review our past year with objective compassion. Is my will to be better strong and directed? which asks to find courage and devotion in our intentions for the coming year.
This will be the fifth year I have sent out a daily e-message to my subscribers around the world between December 25 and January 6 – inspiring an inner nativity and an inner epiphany. Inner Christmas is a path of personal development for people of all traditions, cultures and beliefs. You can join the list at http://www.innerchristmas.com
Chris, thanks for leading the way into the age of personal transparency.

I second what @Rivster said, and think it’s awesome you’re taking advantage of your large number of followers to spread the word about depression, since most people suffer in silence.

SAD and clinical depression in general are very real, and the more people who share their stories and emphasize that it’s NOT something that can be cured by positive thoughts or well-meaning friends telling you to just count your blessings and be happy, the better. Sure, for some people “winter blues” means feeling blah and down for a few months, but for others, winter blues is part of a very real disease–depression–and the idea that winter will soon be over is no consolation because it’s all they can do to get through each hour of every day.

That said, it definitely makes the white-knuckle experience of battling depression easier when you know there are others out there who share your struggle, and I for one really appreciate and find comfort in this post.

Chris, It is obvious that once again you have touched a topic that affects many of us. Living in Central Wisconsin, I have battled SAD for years. Even though I know what it is and use things like moving my office up to the sunniest room in the house and buying a full spectrum light, making sure I eat healthy foods and exercise, it still affects me.

It’s harder to be creative in this time frame and everything that happens around me, I am even more sensitive about. I’ve been told that I am sensitive in general and I have fought that to get tougher and not let everything get to me but it is a battle.

I appreciate you sharing this with your Tribe as Cheryl says and you continue to be an inspiration to us when you share this kind of post with so many of us.

For me it will really help me focus and keep pushing along until spring finally comes…

I’m surprised by how many people on the comments list reference Seasonal Affective Disorder. My mother suffers from it and I get the blues during February in Atlanta.

I know “solutions” aren’t what you’re looking for, but it might be worth trying one of the light systems that you can buy that compensate for the low light levels people with SAD suffer from. It worked for my mother. It might be worth giving a try.

I’ve dealt with depression for much of my life. I actually feel a bit of a boost emotionally during the holidays, it’s after that I hit lows. I recently read this article and found it valuable. It definitely is you who is in control of your feelings…not just the season. It’s much easier said than done, but only you can change your mindset.

What a very simple and very cool way to describe what everybody goes through this time of year. I live and breath in the world at http://www.motivaitontomoe.com – and am always looking for a way to help folks “get it”. The weather in your head… that’s one I need to pass on to as many folks as possible. Just getting to know you Chris but I’m looking forward to that 2009 journey with you. Let me know if I can help.

What a very simple and very cool way to describe what everybody goes through this time of year. I live and breath in the world at http://www.motivaitontomoe.com – and am always looking for a way to help folks “get it”. The weather in your head… that’s one I need to pass on to as many folks as possible. Just getting to know you Chris but I’m looking forward to that 2009 journey with you. Let me know if I can help.

“the weather in my head,,,,,”
Without a doubt the best title for a rock album that I have heard in a long time.