Navigating family dynamics during the holiday season can often be a source of stress, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and building stronger connections. Setting boundaries and practicing thoughtful communication are key strategies in managing family conflict during these often high-stress periods of the year. But where do you start?
Establishing clear boundaries with family and friends allows you to define what you’re comfortable with, whether that’s related to sensitive topics of conversation, personal space, or constraints on your time. Effective communication means actively listening, expressing honest thoughts and feelings, and seeking common ground. These approaches can create a more harmonious holiday environment, fostering understanding and cooperation among family members. This week, we’re highlighting resources to help prioritize open dialogue and successfully navigate family conflict for a happier, more harmonious holiday season.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
Family Conflict Is Normal; It’s the Repair That Matters
by Diana Divecha
This article outlines ways to navigate the inevitable tension and disconnection that can arise in family relationships.
Two Conflict Resolution Skills All Parents (and People) Should Learn
by David Metzger
In this article, author David Metzger offers two skills when navigating conflict resolutions: joining and listening. He outlines how conflict can and should be viewed as a possibility for mutual compassion while navigating steps forward.
How to Have Tough Family Conversations
JED Foundation
We will all experience issues within our family, whether it’s a squabble with a sibling or a larger conflict like divorce. Whatever the issue, a key ingredient in resolving disputes with family members is healthy family communication: talking about an issue clearly, directly, and with empathy.
3 Things to Never Say in An Argument
Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess
In this episode, host Dr. Caroline Leaf shares three things to never say in an argument, and offers some advice on alternative things to say instead. Plus, she shares ways that listeners can use arguments to strengthen relationships!
Listen to the 12-Minute PodcastÂ
ASSESSMENT
Dive Into your Personality Big 5!
Funny. Thoughtful. Serious. Easy-going. Outgoing. Kind. Compassionate. Competitive. Honest.
Words like these, known as personality traits, can describe our behaviors, how we think, and even our emotional patterns. Psychologists theorize there are five core personality traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extroversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism. Also known as the Five-Factor Model, these five traits have been used to help understand and predict how personality traits affect how we perform socially, academically, and professionally.
Take this assessment to find out where your personality lies in the Five-Factor Model! Afterward, check out our resources on how you can dive into these five core personality traits to improve overall mental health and wellbeing.
