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The festive season rolls around, and instead of joy and laughter, you're filled with dread at the thought of navigating family gatherings. Whenever families gather, with multiple expectations, traditions - even trauma - stress is on the menu.
In this second installment of the “how to deal with holiday stress” mini-series, I share my insights, tips and strategies for navigating multiple types of holiday family stress. Want to make your holiday season smoother? This one's for you. Take a listen, and be encouraged… you have choices, my friend.
Stand tall and let's navigate this holiday season together.
Tips & strategies for dealing with the stress:
GRACE: Remember, there are truly very few people who WANT to ruin anyone else’s special occasion. Especially a holiday. We all need a little grace.
- Truly examine and (maybe) change your expectations - then look at how you can make different choices next year.
- Have the “players” changed? (mom…)
- Have the circumstances changed? (money…)
- Examine and explore your own ABC’s
- Assumptions - look at your assumptions for yourself and for others
- Beliefs - have they changed? Do they need to change?
- Conditioning - Examine your “supposed to…” statements for a specific holiday.
- Feel like?
- Look like?
- Duration?
- Represent?
- Gift yourself some counseling or coaching
- Healthy Boundaries Make Happy Holidays Masterclass https://www.theintentionaloptimist.com/healthyboundaries Make THIS holiday season happy with different expectations, AND joyful anticipation! Healthy boundaries based on your core values allows for conscientious and respectful boundary setting for a holiday season YOU decide you want to experience.
Things to do instead of the traditional celebration:
- “Friendsgiving” - Beth Felker Jones email/article
- “I love that the celebration of “Friendsgiving” has been gaining steady ground. We need friends. Most of us could stand to de-center the nuclear family and open up doors to more friends.”
- Travel
- maybe not on “the busiest travel day of the year…” but where might you want to go?
- Christmas in as many cultures as I can…
- Create your own traditions - especially if you have children.
- Redefine your ABC’s, Expectations, Core Values, Boundaries
- Redefine who does what?
- Redefine where, and why you celebrate?
- Try out holidays from other cultures
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Learn more here: Get involved!
Healthy Boundaries Make Happy Holidays Masterclass
What Is Intentional Optimism?
Core Values Exercise
Core Values Course
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