 To live life being profound relaxed does not require a divine intervention That happened when you were born and is simply dormant within you Charles Moore | Stress from large family get togethersChange your expectations If everyone is coming to your house, you might be feeling a jumble of emotions. You want to please everyone and you want everyone to get along. However, this is not a set of realistic expectations as you can not change anyone's behaviour. Instead, try to lower your expectations so that you're not trying for ‘perfect.' No one is perfect, especially when it comes to families. Look for the good in everyone While it's easy to point out everyone's flaws, you may have a less stress if you try instead to focus on positive things. For example, your mother might seem overbearing, but she's helpful in the kitchen. Your brother might be crude and vulgar, but he's actually quite funny and helps the older relatives. Whenever you feel your temper flaring at someone, try to stop and think of one good thing they can offer. It can soothe your stress instantly. Don't bring up the past, unless it's happy Many family gatherings seem to focus on past problems or misunderstandings which can add tension to the already stressful situation. Instead, try to focus on the positive memories of the family and the particular gathering or holiday that is being shared. In doing so, you are creating new associations for your family gatherings. Take the lead and offer up positive discussion topics and memories to recall. Avoid hot spots While you might be a family that thrives on intension political debates, for a family gathering, you may want to hold off on something that's a particularly hot topic. These discussions can turn sour easily and can stress others that aren't involved directly in the conversation. Gather at a neutral location You may want to have your next family gathering at a restaurant or a hotel as this can lessen the possibility of tension. When you're hosting a family gathering, you instantly are perceived as having the ‘upper hand' in the gathering. Have your next gathering at another location and you'll notice that everyone is on their best behaviour. Family gatherings can be a time that you actually look forward to - and with some of these simple stress management tips, you might just offer to host the next holiday. If you aren't yet ready to contact us, please read our publications, familiarize yourself with our services, and get to know more about us . Relaxation Training specialists, The 4th R, 020-8974-8974 |
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