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Step 1
DETERMINE THIS YEAR TO BE DIFFERENT. It all begins with a plan to make this year different from years past. The first thing you must do is to figure out where the problem lies. If it stems from family issues, perhaps you should forego the usual holiday get-togethers. Yes, this may prove difficult, if not near-impossible, at first. But once you convey to your family that you are serious about making changes, they are likely to retreat and not force the issue.
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Step 2
REACH OUT TO OTHERS. Often, depression during the holiday season comes from being alone. If this is the case, try gathering a group of familiar faces from sources other than families. Perhaps there are people in your church or workplace that are in similar situations. Look in other places as well, such as your local senior citizens' center, VFW, gym, or bridge club.
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Step 3
OPEN UP YOUR HOME. A friend of mine from church often has an "open house" during the holiday season. She lives alone, but she loves to cook for others. Despite the fact she lives quite a ways out of town, she always has a constant stream of people coming and going. This is a great way to enjoy a lot of people throughout the day, and bless them with your meal as well.
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Step 4
GET INVOLVED. Nearly every charity and homeless shelter in the world has a need for volunteers. You don't have to be rich or talented or skilled in any field. You just have to be willing to serve others less fortunate than yourself. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own problems that we don't see there is a whole other world of people who could benefit from just a little bit of our time.
