3 Ways to Avoid Family Drama This Holiday Season

Holidays can be the best part of the year, but sometimes, even the thought of meeting all your family members (especially those who you may not particularly get along with or have old hurts attached to) can be as painful and difficult to digest as a heavy holiday feast.

We have all been there, haven’t we ladies? You want to embrace the magic, but the anxiety of facing that one aunt or dealing with awkward dinner table conversations can be totally overwhelming. But don’t worry, friend – we are in this together.

Here are some useful tips how to avoid family drama during the holidays and enjoy the festive season much more this year:

1. Don’t forget what holidays are all about in the first place.

With all the hustle and bustle while buying gifts, decorating the home, searching for the “perfect” outfit, and planning a marvelous party… we can easily forget the true meaning of holidays. It is so easy to get caught up in the stress of making everything look Instagram-perfect, isn’t it?

But here is the truth, friend: Holidays are about faith, preserving traditions, giving, reconnecting with family members, and sharing the love. It is about getting everyone together to share in the spirit of the season. When you feel the stress creeping in, take a step back and ask yourself – is this really worth my peace of mind?

We Want to Hear From You!
What is one holiday tradition that instantly brings a smile to your face? Share your story in the comments below – your experience might help another woman remember the joy of the season!

2. Practice mindfulness while having difficult conversations.

Let’s be real for a second. Family members that have known us since we were little kids can very easily push our emotional triggers. They might say something that hurts us deeply or bring up memories of the past that we are trying to leave behind. It can feel like they know exactly which buttons to press, right?

Very often, family members tend to ask a lot of questions about our life and give unwanted advice on how we should run our life or what kind of decisions we should make. Questions and comments about our love life, job, looks… can be especially very uncomfortable to swallow if we would rather not discuss them. And dont even get me started on when the topic changes to politics! It is no surprise that so many people avoid family dinners having all of this in mind.

This holiday season, try to bring more awareness and mindfulness into your space, lovely. Before you give a reply on a teasing comment or get irritated by the questions, take a deep breath. Be aware of what you are feeling and let it go. You are in control of your energy.

Then, give a smart reply which will work in your favor. It can be as simple as, “I would rather not bring that up right now. I was missing you for a long time, we have a lot to catch up on… let’s enjoy our holidays and time spent together!”

Instead of showing anger, show some more love and remember that you can always choose the way you will react!

A lot of things can happen over a year. People’s lives change, or they move away. We never know when we may lose a loved one. If you knew that it was your last Christmas with some of your family members, would you allow the small stuff to spoil your precious time with that person? Sometimes shifting our perspective changes everything.

3. Don’t get caught up into negative vibes.

If you have a particular negative family member or two that you will be spending your holiday with, have in mind that you cannot control how other people will behave, but only how you will react! You are the guardian of your own vibe, friend.

So, instead of getting caught up into the negative vibes vicious circle, turn the energy around. Tell something funny, share a positive event about your life, or ask everyone what they are grateful for this past year. Ask about their goals and New Year’s resolutions. If there are no positive vibes in the room, you can always create some on your own!

Remember that holidays are a season of faith, joy, togetherness, sharing, giving, love, and caring. This holiday season, make a committed decision that you will make them feel and look just like that. You deserve a beautiful, peaceful time, friend!