Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle\nall the way…..Christmas! What happens for you when you hear that Christmas\nCarol? Joy, excitement, connection,\nbelonging are you salivating at the thought of Rum balls! Or do you feel a\nsense of dread, loneliness, disconnection, anxiety an emptiness that leaves you\nwith no appetite for the festive season at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christmas is that time of year when\nwe rediscover how well our extended family relationships are doing. Throughout\nthe year a workable distance can be created without too much attention raised,\neither through kilometres or by the busyness in our own lives. However, as\nChristmas approaches and families need to discuss, organise and come together\nin celebration, unhealthy ways of relating that are hurtful and difficult can\nagain be highlighted throughout the family. These family patterns or unfinished\nbusiness can leave some families annually caught up in the same old unresolved\npatterns and attitudes. Christmas becomes stuck in the past. These past\nemerging family patterns can often leave us feeling anxious, misunderstood and\nconfused around Christmas time. Most of us push through in silence on Christmas\nday with the comforting thought that it is only for one day, whilst others use\nthe time to air misgivings and hurt. Some unfortunately feel so hurt and\nstressed by family relationships they opt out of a family Christmas altogether,\nleaving a glaring whole in the festive season and inadvertently cause pain to\nthemselves through isolation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A happy Christmas reveals itself to\nbe essentially dependent on how healthy our family relationships are.\nBoundaries, tolerance and effective communication are the key to healthy\nrelationships. Celebrating together in the Christmas spirit of giving,\nreceiving and sharing may be all we need to bridge the gap with our families\nand come away with a sense of belonging and connection. For those who no longer\nattend Christmas day (even if it is for\nthe best) or where conflict is the norm. Christmas day can reveal with\noverwhelming clarity a sense of loneliness and disconnection that is hard to\nignore. This lack of belonging that may be hidden throughout the year is\nexcruciatingly exposed on Christmas day. This day can evoke feelings of\ndisconnection and loneliness. And may even produce feelings of shame…What is\nwrong with me? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Relationships especially family\nrelationships are evolving and forever changing. They can be complex and often\nrequire intentional effort to maintain a healthy connection, especially with\nextended family as we see them less. We all can feel vulnerable in our family\nrelationships and an element of forgiveness and courage is required as we grow\ntogether, to stay together!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For some Christmas is a time to\nrejoice! For others Christmas is a time to heal! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you need support this Christmas due to\nfamily breakdown, disconnection or loneliness please seek support. It is ok to\nask for help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way…..Christmas! What happens for you when you hear that Christmas Carol? Joy, excitement, connection, belonging are you salivating at the thought of Rum balls! Or do you feel a sense of dread, loneliness, disconnection, anxiety an emptiness that leaves you with no appetite for the festive season at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[7],"yoast_head":"\n