Antara Tarocchi (antaratarocchi)

The holiday season can be beautiful and blissful where memories are made that last a life time, but at the same time, it can often get critical, judgmental, and even hostile. Family is such a beautiful thing but can often trigger us in the most deep of ways, this holiday season its important to remember that we get to set the stage for how we react to this intense moments with family. So I have created a mini guide of sorts to help navigate the intensity of this special time of year.

Five Step Guide For Handling Family Drama During The Holidays

One Set your inner baseline before you arrive

Take a quiet moment to ground yourself. Decide what your emotional baseline will be. Calm steady present. When you walk in with a set frequency it is harder for others to pull you into theirs.

Two Know what is yours and what is not

Holiday drama often pulls up old roles and old wounds. Before reacting ask yourself Is this actually mine or is this their projection expectation or unresolved issue. This simple pause stops ninety percent of unnecessary conflict.

Three Set soft boundaries not rigid walls

You can be warm and loving while still protecting your peace. Use gentle phrases like I am going to step outside for a moment or I want to enjoy the evening so I will bow out of this conversation. Boundaries do not have to be confrontational to be effective.

Four Do not match their intensity

If someone escalates you de escalate. If someone pushes you soften. Drama dies quickly when one person refuses to fuel the fire. Your calm is a power move.

Five Leave when you need to leave

You do not get extra points for staying in discomfort. If your body says enough honor it. A graceful exit protects your peace and stops cycles from repeating.