With Thanksgiving underway in the U.S. today, there will be many people attempting to deal with difficult situations. This could be in the form of interacting with toxic family members or experiencing loneliness from being either no contact or ignored. There’s no doubt that all of these situations are incredibly challenging and painful. The big question is: what’s the best way to deal with upsetting contact and/or loneliness, especially during special occasions?
The answer to that question is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each individual’s situation is unique, as is where they currently are in their journey. So, as a result, there is no perfect answer. It comes down to knowing that we have the right and ability to do what works best for us as individuals. That may mean expressing boundaries to toxic family members. It may mean staying home or spending time with other people. There are a multitude of possibilities. But in the end, what is important is that we do what works best for us. That looks different for each person. For some, it may mean maintaining the status quo because conflict isn’t on the books for us right now. For others, it may look like taking a stand and laying down lines that we will enforce at all costs. For others still, peace and contentment may include the choice to simply stay home and avoid the toxicity. And all of those are perfectly fine if it fits with our current needs and goals. One tactic that rarely works in creating or keeping peace within ourselves is doing what we think will make others happy. Most of us who have grown up in dysfunctional family systems have been trained to focus our energy primarily on the happiness of others, rather than tending to our own lives. So it helps to be aware of this tendency and keep its potential influence in mind when we’re making decisions.
No matter what, just know that doing what is right for any of us, at this particular point in time, is the most important component. There’s no rulebook or guides to follow. There is no comparison necessary. Everyone’s journey is unique. We need to live the life we’ve been given, to the best of our abilities. Sometimes things get confusing and difficult, but if the focus is on peace and our best interests, then we’ll find our way.
Sending out vibes of positivity to each and every one of you, wherever you may be.
Until next time,
Heather ~Natural Clarity Coaching~ naturalclaritycoaching.com na********************@***il.com Natural Clarity Coaching on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter
