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November & December: A Season of Meaning, Boundaries, and Gentle Truths


As November and December unfolded, my video content took on a quieter, deeper tone—because that’s what this season tends to ask of us.


Not hustle.Not perfection.But honesty, reflection, and a little more grace than usual.

Over these two months, I talked about stress, boundaries, identity, family dynamics, faith, grief, perfectionism, and what it really means to show up during the holidays without losing yourself in the process.


Here’s a look back at the themes we explored together.


November: Awareness, Stress, and the Stories We Carry

November invited us to slow down and notice our patterns, our pressure points, and the stories we’ve been telling ourselves for years.


We talked openly about:

  • Stress as identity: How “being busy” and “doing it all” can quietly become a badge of worth, and how exhausting that is.

  • Perfectionism and its roots: Including personal stories about growing up, survival strategies, and how old coping mechanisms can follow us into adulthood long after they’re needed.

  • Boundaries that protect relationships: Not harsh “no’s,” but thoughtful decisions that honor both service and sustainability.

  • Emotional honesty: Naming what we feel instead of minimizing it, spiritualizing it away, or pushing through at all costs.


November wasn’t about fixing anything. It was about awareness, because nothing meaningful changes without it.


December: The Holidays Without Losing Yourself

December content focused on what so many people feel but rarely say out loud:

The holidays can be beautiful and hard.


Together, we explored:

  • Letting go of perfect holidays: Choosing what matters most instead of trying to recreate an ideal that may not fit your life anymore.

  • Family dynamics and emotional triggers: Understanding why old roles resurface and how to respond differently without burning bridges.

  • Faith, identity, and “I am too…” stories: Reframing the labels we’ve carried - too emotional, too sensitive, too much - and asking whether those are actually reflections of strength.

  • Grief, loss, and complicated joy: Making space for holidays that don’t look like they used to and allowing both gratitude and sadness to coexist.

  • Community and supportIncluding the reminder that none of us are meant to carry hard seasons alone.

December wasn’t about forcing cheer. It was about choosing meaning.


The Bigger Thread Running Through Both Months

Across November and December, one message kept surfacing:


You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to prove your worth through exhaustion.And you don’t have to be everything to everyone to be enough.


These videos were created to feel like a conversation, not a checklist. A pause, not another demand.

If you watched one, some, or all of them: thank you for being here!! And if you missed a few, they’re waiting for you when you’re ready.


As we move into a new season, we’ll keep building on these ideas, practically, gently, and honestly.


You’re not behind. You’re human.And you’re welcome here.


Hugs!!

Tami


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👥 Want to join us on a retreat? Let us know in the comments!


As we've always asked in the past, please pass the show link along to your friends and subscribe, download, and review wherever you are listening. If you’re a woman and you haven’t joined our private FB group A Place for Women, please do that now! It’ll be your source of encouragement. I'd love for you to follow my Tami West Seminars Facebook page as well. If you'd like to know more about my Mental Health First Aid Courses, contact me at 615-497-7714 or tamiwest@tamiwest.com.


And next season, Consider Yourself Hugged 😘🤗


*Disclaimer:

If you are having thoughts of self harm, suicide, or despair, please reach out to 988 or 911. The information in this show is not intended to be therapy or to address your individual situation. It is information based on experiences, opinions, and research. If you need further help, please reach out to one of the resources here, or others in your area.


Mental Health Resources:







Tami West, PhD

Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.

Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.

Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In any given year, Tami speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people.


Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her with her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.


Tami connects with audiences through real experience, cutting edge research, and transparent stories – all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.


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Contact Tami at tamiwest@tamiwest.com 


 
 
 

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