Holidays are traditionally a time for festivity, gratitude and joy. Yet, in the wake of the recent war and years of compounded hardships in Lebanon, positive emotions have become more nuanced—both in how they are felt and expressed.

In response to that, the LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine’s Office for Continuing Medical Education (CME) and the School of Arts and Sciences (SoAS) held the sixth installment of their joint psychotherapy webinar series on November 20, titled Promoting Happiness and a Positive Mindset in Challenging Times.

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Chair of the Department of Psychology and Education Pia Tohme opened the session by addressing the emotional struggles many face during the holidays when it comes to the question of celebration. She highlighted how some grapple with guilt while trying to maintain yearly traditions, and others wrestle with anger, confusion and a sense of being overwhelmed as they continually evaluate their emotions and ways to express them.

“For parents, the challenge is even greater—they struggle to make sense of these mixed feelings themselves and to determine what messages to convey to their children if they choose to celebrate,” she explained.

“It is difficult to acknowledge that we can be happy for ourselves while remaining empathetic toward others,” Dr. Tohme noted. “However, the key is to express this happiness in a way that is considerate of the context and the people around us. This approach can also be a learning curve to kids and adolescents about empathy, understanding, consideration and perspective taking,” she added.

“It is okay to enjoy moments of happiness from time to time,” noted Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Wael Salame. He emphasized that revisiting the definition of happiness and the symbolic meaning of holidays can help individuals better understand their expectations.

“To do so, it’s important to return to basics—aligning happiness with having a goal in life,” he said. “A sense of purpose, and the process of working toward it, ultimately brings true happiness.” He added that every holiday, and not just Christmas, carries an underlying message: gratitude.

Building on this idea, Dr. Salame encouraged parents to help their children embrace gratitude by asking them to write letters to Santa about what they are thankful for rather than what they want. “This simple exercise offers valuable insight into what brings happiness to children and helps us understand how to support them better,” he noted.

When asked for practical tips on staying positive during difficult times, Dr. Tohme advised identifying what is causing unhappiness and reflecting on personal goals. “Focus on what’s missing and ask, ‘What can I do about it?’ It’s about realizing you have a role in finding your path to happiness,” she explained.

She also emphasized enjoying simple pleasures, like gathering with friends or watching a lighthearted movie, as a reminder that it’s okay to embrace positivity.

To view the recording of this session, please click here.