You’ve promised yourself that this will be the year you enjoy the holidays, less stress, less pressure, more peace. But somehow, you still end up tense, overextended, and exhausted. So what’s really going on?

In this episode of Millennial Midlife, Cecelia breaks down the science and psychology of holiday stress, why your brain resists calm, how old stories and nervous system responses get triggered, and what it really means to stay centered when life around you isn’t. You’ll learn how to redefine calm (it’s not pretending you’re fine or controlling everything), regulate your nervous system in real time, and choose peace moment by moment, even when nothing around you has changed. Whether it’s family dynamics, people-pleasing, or just the chaos of everyday life, this episode will help you find steadiness, clarity, and compassion through it all.

Episode Resources:

• Instagram: @ceceliabmandryk
• Let’s work together

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