Every scroll, every sparkle, every “perfect” photo tells us that holiday joy means having it all together. But what if the real magic of the season isn’t found in doing more, it’s found in being present?

In this installment of The Anti-Overwhelm Holiday Series, licensed therapist, educator, and mom coach Vanessa De Jesus Guzman, LPC, NCC unpacks The Myth of the Perfect Holiday Mom. She shares honest stories, relatable humor, and practical ways to step away from comparison and step back into connection. Whether you’re the “half-homemade holiday mom” or the one whose tree goes up in October, this episode will help you find more peace and less pressure.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

• How perfectionism hides behind “holiday spirit” and what it really costs moms
• Why genuine joy has nothing to do with perfect photos or matching pajamas
• The power of reframing perfection as presence
• How to quiet comparison culture and reclaim your peace
• Small, connection-based traditions that make the season more meaningful
  
  

TUNE IN TO LEARN

• 4 Mindful Shifts to Ease Holiday Overwhelm
  1. Recognize the pressure disguised as “holiday spirit.”
  2. Reframe perfection into presence.
  3. Challenge comparison culture.
  4. Replace performance with connection.
• How to check in with yourself, even if your cards are already mailed and your house really does stay white.
  
  
• Gentle ways to bring calm, laughter, and light back into your holidays.
  
  
  

TAKEAWAY MESSAGE

The holidays aren’t about doing more; they’re about feeling more connection, more peace, more you. When we trade performance for presence, we create moments that actually fill us up instead of draining us.

Download your free reflection guide “Making Spirits Bright: Reflections for a More Meaningful Holiday” to help you slow down, savor small joys, and reconnect with what matters most:
 👉 https://www.freetobemindful.com/makingspiritsbright

Listen in, share with a friend who needs a breather this season, an

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Free to Be Mindful Podcast episodes are for educational purposes only and should not be considered as or substituted for therapy or professional help from a licensed clinician.