Psychologist: the Feeling of Holiday Should be Instilled from Childhood

• 01.02.2016, 20:10
•  No-politics,  Interview

New Year, the psychology of holidays, the importance of good mood ... This is what in an exclusive interview with "Armedia" IAA  a senior lecturer on Medical Psychology of Yerevan State Medical University, Psychologist in the Center for Psychosocial Regulation, Ph.D. in psychology Sona Harutyunyan spoke about.

- On the eve of New Year, people begin to prepare for the holidays, which sometimes seem to them a burden and a must to do. What do you think, in this sense, isn’t there any need for the psychologists to work with the society to help them understand the real sense of this holiday?

- Instilling the feeling of the holiday should be done from childhood. So, in what mood and how we celebrate the New Year to a greater extent depends on our attitude towards the holidays, and the family greatly helps to the formation of this attitude. If we think deeper, we will see that our associations with holidays, including the New Year is a reflection of our impressions and memories from childhood. Consequently, the perception of holidays is strictly individual, hence celebrating the holidays has individual character. Some believe that for the New Year a number of dishes on the table, gifts are important, others are more concentrated on receiving positive emotions from holidays.

From the point of view of psychology pre-holiday period in people's lives is also responsible time as they sum up the passing year and welcom a new one. In summing up the year gone it is desirable to focus on acquisitions and successes, to value what you have, and with a positive attitude plan the new 2016. In general, to avoid pre-holiday stress, you need to plan the time of purchase, and to avoid post-holiday stresses it is desirable that your expectations align with your own psychological and financial resources.

-We often hear the phrase "how you welcome the year, the same way it will continue." It seems to mark a new beginning, hope and optimism. What should be done to preserve the atmosphere of good mood?

- Of course, the New Year is full of positive emotions and new expectations. It seems to be a new page in our life, where each of us is the author of what the mood and thoughts of this page and the book as a whole will be. We have to believe in miracles, without losing the sense of reality. To maintain a good mood,  it is especially important to follow a healthy lifestyle throughout the year.

- What power does smile and positive mood have from the point of view of psychology?

- The change of mood is a normal process. Just a good mood should prevail. As part of the New Year a positive attitude is a great resource for the successful beginning of the year. In general, smile, positive thinking, optimism is increasing the likelihood of harmonious relations, successes, while negative thoughts and pessimism may lead to depression.

Full of optimism, I wish that in 2016 all constructive expectations are met! I wish the world peace, Armenian families warm, harmonious and happy atmosphere. I believe that the pages of 2016 will be filled with kindness and optimism.