Surviving Stressful Family Holidays: My Strategy

Stand Tall & Own It

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

DM me on IG or LinkedIn = @theintentionaloptimist
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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1. Surviving Stressful Family Holidays: My Strategy (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Holiday Stresses and Family Gatherings (00:00:02)

3. Managing Holiday Stress and Expectations (00:11:22)

4. Options for Non-Traditional Holidays (00:23:31)

5. Connect to Share Thoughts and Ideas (00:28:50)