Managing Holiday Stress – A Smile Can Get You Everywhere. As we enter the month of November I start to think about Thanksgiving and everything I’m thankful for. As a Marriage Counselor, I see a range of couples from eternally happy wanting to continue to keep their relationship in check to those who are constantly struggling to keep afloat. As we enter the Holiday Season we will be experiencing our share of stress, be it positive or negative situations or circumstances. Thanksgiving is the start of many family get-togethers where these gatherings are not always wanted or enjoyed.
As a Marriage Counselor, I encourage putting boundaries in place and setting good limits so that individual and relationship needs are met by you and your spouse and your respective families. As a Couples Counselor, I stress the importance of being cognizant of knowing when to say YES and when to say NO. It’s very important when dealing with challenging extended family members. I understand your respective Families of Origins want access to you and yours, but sometimes doing something different can be as beneficial as doing whatever it is you typically do.
With any decision being made it’s important that couples are able to dialogue and have a discussion where they can express their thoughts and feelings. Showing empathy for each other’s feelings and validating each other’s positions shows you care and are being thoughtful when making a decision for your family.
Keeping a positive attitude during the Holiday Season provides not only good personal mental health but role models goodwill to family and friends as they, too, are managing the stressors that come with Thanksgiving, Christmas and welcoming in the New Year. Smiles and kind words are good for the heart and can make or break a good day for those who receive it. Smile as we all have something to be thankful for.
For more information on managing your Holiday stress contact me at (858) 735-1139.
