Hi everyone!
For this episode I want to work on tapping on holiday family gathering stress or holiday gathering stress.
When you think about those holidays parties that you have to go to or getting together with your family,
Sometimes it can be stressful.
There might be family members that you have a conflict with or family members that you don't get along with or there's a previous trauma with that person and just thinking about getting together with family can be very stressful.
So I want to tap on alleviating some of that stress if we can and working to being open to things going better than we expect.
So thinking about where that stress is in your body.
Do you get a knot in your stomach?
Do you feel like you're choking?
You know,
Do you get a headache or do you feel heaviness?
Just take a minute,
Take a breath.
We'll take a four-second in breath.
One,
Two,
Three,
Four.
Hold one,
Two,
And breathe out four,
Three,
Two,
One.
Just rate that stress on a zero to ten.
Zero is I have no stress I just like to tap with you.
Ten is I don't think I can attend this gathering and that's fair.
That's totally fair and it may not even be a family gathering.
It may be a holiday party for work or a Friendsgiving or a friend party that you're really stressed out about.
So scale of zero to ten.
Get your number.
Write it down if you'd like and we'll start tapping on the side of the hands.
And you can repeat after me out loud or in your head whatever works for you.
Tapping on the side of the hands.
Even though I am anxious and stressed about this holiday gathering,
I honor the way that I feel right now.
Maybe I am anxious about seeing a specific person or a group of people before this event,
But I honor all that I'm feeling and I am open to working through this.
Even though sometimes I might feel like an outcast when it comes to being with my family,
I honor who I am and I'm learning to love myself just a little bit more despite the way I may be treated.
Even though sometimes my family says hurtful stuff to me when we are together,
I am open to understanding that maybe they're hurt and they are just lashing out.
I am also open to the fact that maybe my family doesn't understand me and that causes them some fear.
It doesn't make it right,
But I am open to extending forgiveness to them.
Eyebrow point.
I am open to getting through this gathering with grace.
Side of the eye.
I am open to understanding that I can say no under the eye.
I can opt out of going if I really do not feel comfortable under the nose.
My mental health is the most important thing.
Under the lip.
I do not need to put my mental health second.
I can put myself first.
Collarbone.
Can I be open to accepting my family as they are as hard as it may be?
Under the arm.
Can I be open to accepting that maybe they just don't understand?
Top of the head.
Can I be open to accepting the fact that I cannot change anyone?
Eyebrow point.
Can I be open to the fact that I am strong enough to make the changes I need to make for myself?
Side of the eye.
All this anxiety.
Under the eye.
Just thinking about this gathering.
Under the nose.
Thinking about how guilty some of these people may make me feel.
Under the lip.
I feel it in the pit of my stomach.
Collarbone.
This dread about visiting with these people.
Under the arm.
This dread about the people that I have to face that make me uncomfortable.
Top of the head.
Is there anyone that I will see eyebrow point who I can stick by during the event?
Side of the eye.
That will be an ally to me.
Under the eye.
And if I have to avoid certain people or situations.
Under the nose.
I give myself the grace to step away.
Under the lip.
I honor the way that I feel right now.
Collarbone.
And I honor the fact that I deserve to feel comfortable.
Under the arms.
I am open to finding a safe place wherever this event is.
Top of the head.
I am open to finding a place where I can go.
Eyebrow point.
To make sure that I have time to breathe and decompress if I need to.
Side of the eye.
Feeling so anxious about this event.
Under the eye.
Can I be open to accepting that I cannot change the people who hurt me or make me feel uncomfortable?
Under the nose.
But can I be open to making sure that I am doing what's best for me?
Under the lip.
Can I be open to releasing of feeling guilty about taking care of my needs during the holidays?
Can I be open to limiting my time with the people who cause me distress?
Under the arm.
Can I be open to trying a different tradition that makes me more comfortable?
If you are someone that is hosting people this year for any of your events or holidays,
Can you be open to asking your guests to bring some food to contribute?
Eyebrow point.
Can I be open to asking for help if I am hosting a holiday event?
Side of the eye.
Can I be open to asking someone else to host a holiday event this year?
Under the eye.
Can I be open to releasing any need to impress anyone but me?
Under the nose.
Impressing just myself.
Even if it's me being impressed that I got through this event.
Under the lip.
Feeling the stress in my body thinking about the event.
Collarbone.
Even though I still feel some trauma from my family.
Under the arm.
I am open to sitting with the uncomfortable feeling now.
Top of the head.
Even though I am just so nervous about seeing my family.
Eyebrow point.
I am open to limiting my time if I need to.
Side of the eye.
I am open to saying no under the eye.
I am open to leaving early if I need to.
Under the nose.
I am open to bringing a support buddy to any event that I go to.
Under the lip.
I'm open to letting go of this holiday stress and event stress.
Collarbone.
Holiday event stress.
Release.
Under the arm.
Holiday party stress.
Release.
Top of the head.
Family gathering stress.
Release.
Eyebrow point.
Holiday event stress.
Release.
Side of the eye.
Holiday party stress.
Release.
Under the eye.
Family gathering stress.
Release.
Under the nose.
All this holiday event stress.
I release it as much as I can now.
Under the lip.
All of this holiday party stress.
I release as much as I can of it now.
Collarbone.
Family gathering stress.
I release as much as I can of it now.
Under the arm.
I know that I can get through whatever I need to get through with ease and grace.
Top of the head.
I honor the way that I feel now.
I am open to walking into any holiday events with a neutral mindset because they could go better than I expect.
Eyebrow point.
And if they go worse than I expect,
Then I know that I can walk away.
Side of the eye.
I give myself permission to do what's best for my mental health.
Under the eye.
I give myself permission to feel good this holiday season.
Under the nose.
I am open to remembering the only person I need to impress is myself.
Under the lip.
Because I'm the one that's got a lip with me.
Collarbone.
And I honor myself.
Under the arm.
I am strong.
I am resilient.
And I am loved.
Top of the head.
And I've got this.
And I'll have you stop tapping,
Take a deep breath,
Shake it out if you need to.
And keep in mind that if you are sitting at the table and your stress levels start to go higher,
You can always tap on your fingers under the table.
I do this all the time.
Just make sure that you tap right next to your fingernail on the inner side of the finger.
So the thumb side of each finger on each hand.
And just tap lightly,
Tap under the table,
Tap on the side of your hand if you've got to do that too.
So just tap on your thumb,
Your index finger,
Your middle finger,
And your pinky finger.
We're gonna skip the ring finger.
Then just tap along and just say,
You know,
Even though I'm so stressed,
I'm gonna be okay.
You've got this.
Family events and holiday events can be extremely stressful and extremely triggering.
And I hope that you are able to release any guilt about saying no and you are able to get through all of these events with ease and with grace because you can do this.
I support you and I have faith in you.
Keep tapping!
