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Part 3
of a multi-part series.
More
email from people who read my 'Holiday
Stress Part 1' & Part 2' newsletters
(click
here for Part 1 and click
here for Part 2 to view them on the web), so
here goes Part 3. As always, email me if you have
questions, or comments.
-- Brian
What Causes
Your Holiday Stress?
Here's
more of what some coaches and therapists say can
help you cope during the upcoming holidays.
Dreading
Family Get-togethers because of the "Zingers"?
Like
these?
- "Have
you put on a little weight, dear?"
- "So,
when are we going to have another grandchild"?
- "I
don't mean this in a bad way, but what happened to your
hair?"
An
easy way to prevent or reduce holiday stress is to RISE
ABOVE the criticism, sarcasm, jealousy, advice and
lectures. Here's how:
Step
1 -- Sometime
before the get-together, make a list of your
relatives' favorite one-liners, zingers, or lectures, and
number them. For example, "Apparently you're
going to be both fat AND bald, just like your old
man," might be,
say,
'Zinger
#1'.
Step
2 -- Next,
repeat these zingers to yourself -- copying the voices of your
relatives and making fun of the jabs -- until they don't
bother YOU anymore.
Step 3 -- When
you get hit with a "live" zinger at a get-together,
smile and say to yourself, "Hey, that's good old
Zinger #1!"
Desensitizing yourself to insulting personal
remarks allows you to practice yet another stress-management
technique -- giving a good-humored, detached reply.
Rather than bristling and snapping back, you
can joke or exaggerate: "Me gain weight? Heck no, I've
just lost some height!"
Another way to deflate zingers is to sit on
your ego and simply agree: "Yeah, this is the worst
haircut I've ever had."
If you can relax, keep your sense of humor,
and practice humility, you can rise above ANYTHING that comes
your way.
Don't waste your energy trying to reform
your relatives. Don't bring yourself down to their level. If
you're waiting for a family member to miraculously change and
live up to your expectations -- don't hold your breathe!!
A
Tip from the ThinkTank
--
4
Gifts That Don't Cost a Cent!
1.
The Gift of Listening - but you must REALLY listen.
No interrupting, no daydreaming,
no
planning your response. Just listen.
2.
The Gift of Laughter - Clip cartoons. Share great
articles and funny stories. Your gift will say, "I
love to laugh with you."
3.
The Gift of a Compliment - A simple and sincere, "You
look great in red," "You did a super job," or
"That was a terrific meal", can truly
make someone's day.
4.
The Gift of Solitude - There are times when we want
nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to
those times and give the gift of solitude to others.
Source:
The Laughter Prescription
Created by
Coach Brian Howe
Please
feel free to forward this newsletter to those in your
network.
ThinkTank
C
O A C
H I N
G
Life
is About Choice!
3005
Brian's Way, SE
Conyers, GA 30013
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Copyright
2002, Brian Howe.
All rights reserved. Feel free to forward, but you
must include entire article and copyright notices.
Thanks to
Hope Health
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