Guide For Family Gatherings Around The Holidays

Family gatherings at holidays can be a challenging experience causing anxiety as the date approaches. With some advance preparation of ourselves, we can create a shift in the energy of the gathering. And at the very least, we can come away feeling far more peaceful when it is over.

Transcript

Family gatherings during the holidays,

Vacations,

Or even a casual visit can be a very trying time.

We may love our family,

But because of a complex past or unresolved traumatic experiences,

Family gatherings can be extremely triggering.

We look forward to the gathering,

But at the same time we look up against seeing them.

I myself have attended joyous family gatherings that have ended in disaster.

Hurt feelings,

Crying,

Yelling,

Door slamming,

People leaving in anger,

It's so sad.

Here we have all come together,

Each of us truly wanting to have a nice visit.

But there is a way.

The shift happens with advanced preparation.

Even if you are the only one preparing,

It has a ripple effect.

That is what this meditation is about.

In the days or weeks leading up to the gathering,

And even right before you leave to attend,

Do the following exercise and you will be amazed at the shift.

It involves letting go and expressing gratitude.

Listen to these words as though you are saying them to yourself,

Like a mantra or affirmation.

Thank you for this gathering of family or friends.

I choose now to let go of any expectations of bad things happening.

I choose to lead with my heart,

With love.

Thank you for giving me the courage to lay down my sword and choose not to fight,

Even if provoked.

Thank you for the awareness that each of us is on our own journey,

Doing exactly what we need in this moment for our soul's growth.

Thank you for helping me to remain calm,

Even if I have been triggered.

Thank you for giving me the strength to engage in conversations,

Not arguments,

Even when I know I am right.

Thank you for helping me understand that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs,

Opinions,

Dreams and desires,

Even if they don't align with mine.

Thank you for all that I know and for my truth.

Thank you for the awareness that my truth is for me and that it may not be true for someone else.

Thank you for all that I don't know and for the skill to learn from others with curiosity and enthusiasm,

No matter who they might be.

Thank you for helping me choose understanding and curiosity over condemnation.

Thank you for helping me choose kindness and compassion over judgment and deprecation.

Thank you for helping me choose a smile over a frown or a grimace.

And thank you for the strength to resist the overwhelming urge to roll my eyes.

Thank you for helping me choose love over fear and mistrust.

Thank you for helping me choose patience over frustration with myself and the others I interact with.

Thank you for reminding me to pause and respond to situations,

Instead of jumping straight in and reacting.

Thank you for helping me to understand that the only person I need to validate and accept me is me.

Thank you for helping me understand that I may never feel loved by others the way that I wish to be loved,

And that that is okay,

Because I love myself exactly how I am and how I need to be loved.

Thank you for helping me understand that others may never apologize for things that hurt me,

And that they may not even understand why I was hurt.

Thank you for helping me understand that it was never about me.

It was the unhealed parts of their being that caused the wound.

Thank you for all the lessons and experiences in my life that has led up to this moment.

It's what makes me unique and who I am in this world.

Thank you for my life and those I love with whom I choose to share it.

Thank you for the peace that I feel when I take time to pause and allow people to be who they are and do what they do without interference from me.

Thank you for helping me understand that each person at the gathering is a work in progress and everyone is going at their own pace,

Even me.

And thank you for the love that I have for myself,

Which grows stronger each day,

For I realize the greatest gift I can give to the world is loving myself as I am in this moment,

Without question,

Without condition.

So now when you go to this gathering,

Go with love radiating from your heart and a genuine smile on your face.

Expect a nice visit.

If the energy of the room is low,

Don't adjust yourself to match it.

Change the energy of the room to meet your radiant energy.

When you lead with love,

You can't go wrong.

Reviews

I love the spirit of this, to take positive energy into difficult interactions, here’s hoping it works for me 🤞🙏🏻

Really beautiful reminders to prepare and make space for a loving experience with family. With Appreciation.🙏🏼

Thank you Henry for this deeply thought provoking and restorative meditation even after the family gathering. 🙏

Thank you Henry, very helpful, especially for this time of year. May your festive season be peaceful. Love and blessings 💕 x

Beautiful! Thank you for this wonderful practice. I love it! 🥰 By the way, it inspired me to send some distant Reiki to my upcoming family gathering too ✨

Henry this was beautiful and shall listen whenever I go to a gathering! Thank you ! Peace and every good! 🙏🙏🙏

As always a perfect, heartfelt meditation from you Henry, always hits the spot.
You have an amazing insight into people's minds and thoughts.
I strongly believe in kindness and compassion to others and to myself.
It was soo good to find a new meditation from you to add to my growing collection 🙏
Namaste my friend 🧡 ❤️

What a great preparation, Henry. May we all enjoy this time.