Absolutely holiday dinners with family are supposed to be fun and memorable . If everyone could just keep this in mind during holiday gatherings everything will go well.
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Coping With Emotional Holiday Trauma
Unfortunately, many of us have had a few negative experiences with family during the holidays. In my experience, I have had to overcome anxiety, headaches, and even stomach pains days leading up to holiday gatherings with family. If you have ever been singled out on one of these important days you know exactly how it feels. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way forever. There is a strategy that I use and I hope it will help you as well.
My strategy is that I expect certain people to just be who they are and act how they always act. It helps me to avoid disappointment, sadness, and hurt.
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Empowered Connections Counseling reminds us that we have a choice in how we celebrate our holidays and that it’s also important to recognize our triggers during the holidays. Read more helpful suggestions from Empowered Connections Counseling and how to cope with emotional trauma during the holidays here.
My Number One Tip for You and Your Family
When family issues begin during holiday gatherings it’s usually because of one reason, a lack of respect for the other person’s position, response, or belief. Let’s use family conversations as an example. Having a difference of opinion is expected in a conversation. The conversation turns toxic when each speaker isn’t allowed to express their own opinion or belief whether it is ethically right or wrong.
Kindness is a requirement when you want people to eat a meal together in peace. People have to learn to respect other’s choices whether it is a career, lifestyle, or education. You don’t have to like or accept another person’s choice, but respect is a must! Spouses, children, and significant others also deserve respect as well.
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Keep This in Mind During Your Next Holiday Gathering.
Maintain your own behavior and be determined to do the right thing towards everyone. If the ambience changes and you can no longer maintain your own composure go for a walk, step away to pray, change the conversation and if all else fails make a cordial, but not dramatic exit for the evening.
I hope that you and your family have an amazing holiday!
Do you have any stress-free holiday tips? We’d love to know, share them in the comments below!
I have never had family strife. This is very helpful for those that do.
I’ve lucked out in that I have never experienced tension at Holiday dinners with family. We just never talk about any taboo topics I guess.
That’s great! I hope that you never experience any tension during family gatherings.
Thank you! I just heard a show on the radio today and it was funny and sad to hear callers expressing how some family members just don’t understand the problems with trying to discuss sensitive topics during what is supposed to be a fun time.
This is a really great post. I really do hope that you never experienced tension in Holiday gatherings cause I already did.
These seem like good tips for a peaceful holiday dinner, I’m grateful that ours have been pretty smooth over the years!
I am so agree that we all individually need to do our part in a better way to do everything possibile toward others to fell good. Argues can wait after holidays!
I completely agree with you about respect. It’s hard when you control your actions but other’s don’t.
This is excellent advice! I’ve experienced some tense holiday meals due to family dynamics, which wasn’t fun. One member of my family has chosen to distance herself from some of the others and skips the big family holidays. While I wish we could all be together, I have to respect her decision.
After my divorce, the holidays just hit differently. I’m a keep to myself person and don’t have a ton of family around. My older kids have also moved out and started their own lives. So I rarely get to see them.
The holidays can be so stressful! It is good to have some ways to get through tough parts of it.
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I have never had family strife. This is very helpful for those that do.
I’ve lucked out in that I have never experienced tension at Holiday dinners with family. We just never talk about any taboo topics I guess.
That’s great! I hope that you never experience any tension during family gatherings.
Thank you! I just heard a show on the radio today and it was funny and sad to hear callers expressing how some family members just don’t understand the problems with trying to discuss sensitive topics during what is supposed to be a fun time.
This is a really great post. I really do hope that you never experienced tension in Holiday gatherings cause I already did.
These seem like good tips for a peaceful holiday dinner, I’m grateful that ours have been pretty smooth over the years!
I am so agree that we all individually need to do our part in a better way to do everything possibile toward others to fell good. Argues can wait after holidays!
I completely agree with you about respect. It’s hard when you control your actions but other’s don’t.
This is excellent advice! I’ve experienced some tense holiday meals due to family dynamics, which wasn’t fun. One member of my family has chosen to distance herself from some of the others and skips the big family holidays. While I wish we could all be together, I have to respect her decision.
After my divorce, the holidays just hit differently. I’m a keep to myself person and don’t have a ton of family around. My older kids have also moved out and started their own lives. So I rarely get to see them.
The holidays can be so stressful! It is good to have some ways to get through tough parts of it.