The “safe bubble” point above is a tremendous example of this! Even when holiday cheer is being forced upon us, we have the right to say no. We have the right to have needs that we communicate.
We have the right to get curious about the most sustainable ways for us to spend our time throughout this season.
Again, our loved ones may require being taught (whether indirectly through modeling or directly through communicated rules/beliefs/norms) to respect our boundaries.
Therapeutic Tool 4. Find An Ally Within Your Holiday Communities
Whether you spend time with your family of origin, your chosen family, or both, being in a larger group can oftentimes feel overwhelming.
It’s not always the case that we feel fully safe with every person involved in any given party or dinner dynamics, and that’s also okay.
Choose one closely pre-appointed ally who will also be present in that situation …
