In our efforts to cultivate joy during the holidays, we often find ourselves so busy that we barely have the opportunity to truly savor this time of year

If you’re a woman who has been trying to make new friends or deepen your relationships with old friends, you might be surprised by how challenging this process can be.

Women in the workforce often feel that they have to exceed expectations in order to advance in their professions. All the while, they have to deal with challenges at work that lots of men have the luxury of avoiding.

Maybe you’ve gotten into the habit of “faking it” when you’re in the bedroom with your partner. At first, you might have assumed this was a harmless white lie.

Do you notice that your mood tends to dip when the days get shorter? You’re not imagining things. It’s fairly common for people to experience seasonal depression throughout the winter.

Perhaps you’ve recently gone through a breakup. Now, you’re wondering how to navigate life on your own. Maybe you’ve been single for a while now. You’re tired of dealing with prying questions.

Dealing with misogyny day in and day out can be exhausting. Many women feel like they have to walk a fine line at work, at home, in school, and other settings in order to appear likable and meet other people’s expectations.

Maybe you’ve come to dread certain times of year because the changing weather causes your mental health to suffer. Many people feel down when winter sets in.

Maybe you’ve been anxious lately, and everything seems to be stressful. Going to the grocery store, texting a friend, speaking up at work, attending social gatherings, or booking appointments can all worsen your anxiety.

Maybe you’ve only ever been in monogamous relationships. Recently, you’ve met someone who you could see a future with. Yet they surprised you by telling you that they’re polyamorous.

Do you constantly fear being rejected in relationships? This doesn’t just come into play if you want to ask someone out on a date, or if you’re trying to get to know a potential new friend; your fear of rejection also crops up in established relationships with people who probably have never given you a reason not to trust them.

Maybe you find yourself agreeing to things you don’t believe in for the sake of making other people happy.

Maybe you can’t help but engage in negative self-talk. You constantly criticize yourself and define yourself by your worst moments. At times, you end up assuming the worst of others, and you might shy away from potential friendships or relationships because of your negative perceptions of the world.

Today, countless people struggle with loneliness. If you’ve been feeling lonely and isolated, it’s not a personal failure.

Maybe you’ve recently lost a loved one, and you can’t stop thinking about them. They occupy your thoughts around the clock.