30 Alternatives to a Dysfunctional family Christmas was originally one of my most shared blog posts but this year over half of it was totally irrelevant due to COVID. So I asked my wonderful colleague, previous podcast guest and Soul Centre contributor Lindley Ashline to help me make this episode more HAES and COVID friendly. Thanks Lindley.
I originally wrote 30 Alternatives to a Dysfunctional Family Christmas due to my own history where almost every year, Christmas ended up being a shit fight! From as far back as being less than 10 years old and having to go between divorced and warring parents, to feeling bad leaving my mother or father at home on their own, the passive aggressive family relations around the Christmas table each year, having to share my father with one of his girlfriends and their kids, turning to food as a source of comfort and eventually numbing out on amphetamines at a London Christmas Day rave – the straw that broke the camel’s back was pushing through my pain and suffering the year my 3 close family members had new babies, and we’d just had our 13th failed IVF cycle. I slipped a disc and still turned up anyway, only to spend 3 hours watching babies and an excessive amount of toy opening whilst flat on my back! One part of me was happy for them, another part was raging and another part didn’t want them to think I wasn’t happy for them so I pushed through anyway.
I’d leave these family functions, drive home down the M4 and be at war with myself; the eating disorder self would say, ‘I’m going to drive-thru Maccas, sit in the carpark in the dark and binge eat’. It wasn’t until much further along in my own therapy that I strengthened my healthy self and my own internal nourishing mother who said, ‘It’s ok, your feelings are valid, that was tough, I care about you, I don’t want you to binge and hurt yourself like that, go home and have a nice, hot Dr Hauschka bath’.
After the baby Christmas, it finally hit me, ‘I don’t have to do this anymore, I am an adult now, I can actually choose how I want and need to spend Christmas’.
There are many reasons you may be dreading Christmas:
- You come from an interpersonal/complex trauma background and are struggling with anxiety and/or depression
- You are suffering with or recovering from disordered eating or other addiction
- You are exhausted and need a break from it all
- You have spent the best part of the year or are still in lock-down
- You don’t have any family close by
- You are single, lonely, and you are longing for a relationship
- You have lost someone close to you and are grieving
- You are suffering with infertility and can’t bear to be around others with children
- You are completely fed up with consumerism and are looking to be more earth friendly and sustainable
- You come from a Christmas-free tradition
Or maybe… Your family is just plain dysfunctional and it is too unhealthy for you to be around them right now.
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how much self-development work you have done – it is easy to get hooked into old patterns and ways of relating. Martha Beck says,
“There’s nothing in the world as sticky as a dysfunctional family. You can put half your life’s savings into therapy—good therapy, effective therapy—and, 15 minutes into a holiday reunion, you still become hopelessly enmeshed in the same old crazy dynamics. Your assertiveness training goes out the window and a mere sigh from your grandmother triggers an attack of codependency so severe you end up giving her your house.”
I love Martha’s ideas in 5 Ways to Survive Your Next Family Gathering
- Give Up hope – we often go to family gatherings in the hope that this time they will be different – they rarely are. Tip: avoid disappointment by practicing radical acceptance
- Set boundaries (I’m going to deep dive into this one shortly so I’ll come back to it)
- Lose control. Tip: stop trying to control others
- Become a participant observer. Tip: participate as though you are there writing an article for a newspaper and don’t bite the hook as Pema Chodron would say!
- Debrief afterwards. Tip: Go to someone who IS emotionally available. Typically we go to our dysfunctional families looking for emotional connection and for whatever reason, it just isn’t possible for them to meet our emotional needs.
I would of course recommend giving these strategies a go; my number one recommendation is to always work towards relationship – especially if you have a tendency to push others away and/or isolate yourself. But sometimes, the only way to take care of yourself is to ditch the self-inflicted guilt and say no!
Saying no is a vital part of setting boundaries, but it can also be one of the hardest parts. From a boundary-setting perspective, saying no isn’t just about turning down invitations; it’s about saying no to choices made from the false self (that’s when we are hustling for our worthiness) and making space to say yes to the true self. And NO, that’s not being selfish…
For example, a friend and colleague who is on the autism spectrum, finds that movie theatres leave her overwhelmed and unhappy. Going to the movies is a favourite way for her family to spend time together and bond, so whenever she’d visit, she’d feel obligated to go, even though it wasn’t a good experience for her.
When she learned to set boundaries, it allowed her to speak up and suggest alternate activities. Setting that boundary allows her to take care of herself, do something that aligns with her needs, while also spending time with her family.
For me, boundaries have come in the form of moving to the other side of the world, limiting contact, long periods of estrangement, being assertive, asking for what I need, and sometimes just saying a bit fat NO. You might have tried setting day to day boundaries but are now at a stage where you might be thinking of limiting or eliminating contact with your family, which can be hard and lonely at the holidays and even more confusing with COVID lock-downs and reopenings.
In Family Estrangement and the COVID19 Crisis, The UK charity Stand Alone says,
Although family relationships are often assumed to be life-long, loving and supportive, and shelter from a global pandemic, some are challenging, distant and inactive, and can make a pandemic more difficult. Some people might have no contact with their estranged family member, whereas others have minimal or limited contact…
…people throughout lockdown who were estranged from family felt an amplified sense of social and personal isolation, particularly when others talked about supportive families. Despite the assumption that family members will be a source of support during the COVID-19 crisis, this is not always the case. These assumptions need to be called out for what they are – assumptions, not facts – and there needs to be a wider recognition that family relationships vary in quality.
So what to do on Christmas Day and throughout the holiday season if you don’t have family, can’t travel to family, don’t want to spend it with family or if you want to avoid Christmas altogether?
Before we dive in, speaking of boundaries, as always, please be COVID SAFE! Your health and wellbeing matter, if there was ever a time to set and hold boundaries around safety, it’s now. An in-person family gathering is not worth putting yourself, your family and all the people you (and they) interact with afterward at risk.
As you navigate this holiday season, if you are in a COVID hot spot, please be COVID SAFE by:
- Following government guidelines unless of course if you are in the US where you follow whatever Dr Fauci says
- Wear a mask if required
- Use Zoom (or an old-fashioned phone call) if you are in a hot spot
- Travel by car, not public transport, where possible
- Only hold small gatherings
- Do not see anyone outside support bubbles, either side of and over the Christmas period
30 COVID Friendly Alternatives to a Dysfunctional Family Christmas
1. Lend a hand to charity
I normally recommend the Wayside Chapel Christmas Day Street Party. It has one main objective – to bring the community together. Each year, they put on a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and fill the street with music and dancing. The event is a day for the whole community. Activities include: breakfast, Christmas church service, entertainment and Christmas lunch. Unfortunately, all events are postponed due to COVID, so here are some of my fave ways you can lend a hand virtually this Christmas.
- Donate a $25 plate to Wayside Chapel to buy one Christmas lunch
- Donate to the Indigenous National Healing Foundation
- Donate to the Manly Women’s Refuge for Women & Children
2. Head down to the beach for a swim
Listen to the roar of the waves. Soak in the sea air. Feel the ocean breeze on your face and the warmth of the sun on your skin. Science says the surf and sand does the mind (and body) good, from reducing stress to increasing happiness.
In fact, according to an analysis of English census data published in the journal Health Place, those who live by the coast report better physical and mental health than those who don’t. Staring at the ocean actually changes our brain waves’ frequency and puts us into a mild meditative state.
“Plus, that consistent ebbing and flowing you hear as you lie on your towel under an umbrella? ‘It kind of de-stimulates our brains,’ says clinical psychologist Richard Shuster. The noises — coupled with the visuals — activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which is ‘responsible for slowing us down and allowing us to relax and feel more engaged,’ says Sally Nazari, PsyD,
Getting out in the sun – anywhere, not just the beach – for 10-15 minutes per day can also increase your levels of vitamin D, which is good for health all around.
Vitamin D levels have been correlated with COVID-19 outcomes. Two recent studies found that 80% of people with COVID-19 didn’t have adequate levels of vitamin D, and that COVID-19 patients with adequate vitamin D had a 51.5% lower risk of dying. So getting out in the sunshine when you can is important on multiple levels, especially for Black, Hispanic and Indigenous communities, who are at a higher risk for both vitamin D deficiencies and the coronavirus.
If you can’t casually spend the day at the shore, try these beach cams from around the world and get a taste of the waves and water from Spain to Malta to Zanzibar. You might also check out the beach cams at The Del, an original American wooden Victorian beach resort.
One final thing I want to add, don’t wait until you are beach body ready…your body is ready to enjoy the sun and the surf right now! All bodies are beach body worthy.
3. Keep calm and read a book
With the glorification of busyness seeping into everyday life, why not settle in with a novel you’ve been meaning to read? Wordsmith Lara Winter-Héberts says that there is 10 Benefits of reading: mental stimulation, stress reduction, builds knowledge, vocabulary expansion, memory improvement, stronger analytical skills, improved focus and concentration, better writing skills, tranquility & free entertainment
If you’re juggling children, prefer to listen or can’t get to the library, audiobooks are a great alternative — and yes, they count as reading! Audible, Overdrive and Borrowbox are 3 options. The latter two are both free and available through your local library using your library card. And if you want to follow what I’m reading, join me on Goodreads and Instagram.
4. Check out the latest flicks
Cinemas all around the globe are open on Christmas Day, and it’s a perfect time to explore some traditions, celebrations and beliefs that are different from what you grew up with, or to delve deeper into your own identity.
Movies with and about LGBTQI+ characters haven’t exactly been readily available in the past, but 2020 is evidence of how fast this is changing. Check out new releases like Happiest Season, The Christmas House and Dashing in December for warm, comforting holiday tales.
If you’re located in Sydney, you can also pack a blanket, spend some cozy time in the boot of your car watching the Christmas-themed romantic comedy Love, Actually at Skyline Drive-In . They also have a great diner with plant-based options.
My family and I are working our way through this list and we went to the movies a few years ago on Christmas Day. We had the cinema to ourselves, ate pizza and danced in the aisles to a bit of JT – it was lots of fun!
5. Download a movie for some movie therapy
Movie therapy can help you to reframe the way you think and feel, as well as help you to deal with life’s ups and downs. Check out these dysfunctional family DVDs. Who knows? You may even begin to feel a sense of gratitude for your own dysfunctional family after watching these.
6. Spend Christmas with your family of choice
Your family of origin doesn’t have to be your only family. It may mean spending some time redefining what ‘family’ means to you and forging your own traditions as you move forward in life.
If you’re not able to see your chosen loves, spend some time telling them what you love about them and planning future get-togethers. There are also lots of great ideas for online gatherings out there, too (Zoom karaoke, anyone?).
7. Host an orphans’ Christmas lunch
Open your home to those who are on their own, visiting your city for work, in town on holidays or who wish to take a break from their own family! Get the conversation going with the Kikki K Christmas conversation starters. Nice idea but can’t afford it? Ask everyone to bring a plate or split the food bill.
Still in lockdown? Host a virtual dinner party, cooking class, or wine tasting. After the food, try out an online game night, mystery party or movie night. Figuring out the tech involved might be a bit of a learning curve, but trust me, figuring it out together might cause as much laughter and silliness as the actual activity!
8. Go to a church or carol service (safely)
Christmas has been celebrated for over 2000 years, yet in recent times it has become more about presents, consumerism, food and booze. If you’d like to connect or re-connect with Christmas, go back to its roots and check out a Christmas church service. (In some places, doing this safely will likely involve a virtual option.) Hear the church bells ring. Listen to the story of Jesus. Find solace and sanctuary. Go with an open mind and connect with something greater than you.
Some options are an Interfaith or traditional service (look for one close to you). You might choose instead to visit a Baha’i House of Worship for quiet reflection.
It’s perfectly okay to only choose the parts of the holiday that appeal to you, and if you’re a music lover, carols might be a great choice.
Sing Christmas Carols in the Domain, on December 23 or online around the globe throughout the Christmas season, including Christmas Day.
A London-based festive event which you can attend from your kitchen table / sofa/ bed with hot chocolate in hand is Last Christmas, perfect for music lovers. Held on Zoom, the event will visit the locations featured in the movie Last Christmas, inspired by George Michael’s music, and tell tales of festive music through the ages.
For a unique gift, book the singing group Get Gospel for your family, chosen family or even as an amazing present for yourself. These guys and gals will basically sing you a private concert live on Zoom!
Singing provides a wide range of physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual benefits. Some of these include an increased heart rate, improved breathing, good posture, enhanced mood and a sense of connection with others.
9. Have lunch with the animals
Zoos are open on Christmas Day – some even put a lunch on. Check out Taronga or Western Plains Zoo. A few months ago, I did a Lion Healing Prompts Instagram post, I’m including it in the show notes for you or alternatively head over to my Instagram @jodie.gale. If you want to use the Zoo as a way of going deeper, spend some time with one or more animal and perhaps journal or reflect on the following:
- What can I learn from this animal?
- What traits of this animal can I foster within myself?
- If I hold a problem in mind, for example, I feel lonely. Perhaps ask your animal, ‘I feel lonely, what advice do you have for me?’
10. Take a Christmas tour
Take a self guided bright walking tour of Sydney (or your city) and admire the magical light projections, Christmas tree and lights and shop window displays.
For added COVID safety this year, consider a virtual tour. Fancy a festive outing in London, but from the comfort of your sofa? An excellent option is the John Lewis Christmas Shop Virtual Tour. I was so excited to see this because when I lived in London, I used to love shopping in John Lewis! They have launched an online tour which you can use to explore the festive part of the Oxford Street store. This clever tool allows you to move around the floor and interact with products, perfect for Christmas pressie shopping. Another great virtual tour is to ride every ride at Disneyland – it is a virtual dream come true!
11. Educate yourself on race and learn more about Indigenous Australians and their spiritual ancestors
Family dysfunction and intergenerational trauma can be about more than just the interpersonal dynamics that are happening right this moment. Intergenerational trauma is closely linked to systems of oppression that include racism — which, despite all we hear about racism in the U.S., isn’t just an American problem.
As we set boundaries and reject family dysfunction, it’s a perfect time to learn about how that dysfunction reinforces oppression and begin to do the work, both in how we interact with others and in the systems we might be unwittingly reinforcing due to our own pasts.
That means reading, listening, increasing our awareness, sitting with our discomfort and supporting Black and Indigenous communities. It may sound a little heavy for the holidays, but it’s important work: not only to increase justice in the world as a whole, but to build healthier views and relationships so we can avoid passing on prejudice and trauma to another generation.
One way to discover more about Indigenous Australians and their spiritual ancestors is by taking a day trip from Manly to Parramatta via Circular Quay. Sydney ferries run a Sunday service on Christmas Day. From North Head to the Harbour and down the Parramatta River – the journey is steeped in Indigenous history. Grab a copy of The Little Red Yellow Black Book to brush up on how Indigenous Australians view the land and their history.
If you can’t get out or need to stay COVID safe, last Australia day, Indigenous Leaders recommended we watch NITV to learn more about Indigenous Australia – perfect timing with Australia Day coming up in January.
12. Forest Bathe (Shinrin-yoku)
Forest bathing or shinrin-yoku means to bathe in a forest atmosphere and to connect with ourselves and the earth, through all of our senses. The fundamental issue underlying addiction, anxiety, childhood trauma, depression, disordered eating, relationship concerns, global warming – is disconnection – from ourselves, from others, from Mother Earth.
Somewhere in our early lives, the connection wasn’t secure or there. Or maybe it got lost somewhere along the way. Forest bathing is one way to foster this lost connection. Learn more about forest bathing.
There are many bush walks around the Sydney and the foreshores. Check them out at Sydney.com.au & Wild Walks.
13. Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge
To Sydneysiders, the Bridge is more than a photogenic landmark. It’s much bigger, much more important than that. You’ve driven it, walked it, drifted under it and felt that feeling when you glimpse it through the window of a homeward-bound A380. Now climb it on Christmas Day.
14. Enjoy a Christmas Day picnic or BBQ
Want an activity that combines holiday ease, sunshine, vitamin D collection, getting back to nature, supporting small businesses and even possibly some forest bathing? Head out for a Christmas day picnic or BBQ.
Leave the stress of cooking and cleaning at home. Pack what you need, or get your supplies from the local organic market and support local business. Embrace nature, get your kids outside for a while, off of screens, stare at the sky, watch the clouds come and watch the clouds go – just like feelings and thoughts – there you have it, a free lesson in mindfulness while you are at it.
Enjoy some time in one of Sydney’s National Parks or best picnic spots, or find your own local haven. (And please follow distancing guidelines for safety, even outside.)
15. Create a wanderlust list
Our holidays might be on hold but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming of where we’d love to be when all this is over. We’ve been using Bimble, an app allowing you to collect, save and share your favourite places. Whether it’s creating a list of all the places you want to travel around the world, the most attractive waterfalls, tourist spots or hikes, Bimble can enable that dream world for us right now. You can also create a list of the local places you’ll visit when the restrictions are lifted and your favourite high street gems are open again. It’s getting us through.
16. Catch a 360-degree view of Sydney
Looking for something a little fancier? Ditch the holiday food prep altogether — and the dishes — and eat a five-course Christmas lunch at the revolving O Bar and Dining.
This was another favourite of ours, last year my father was in rehab out in the Western Suburbs so we picked him up and took him to the revolving Italian restaurant in Blacktown – it was such a great day, made even better by the amazing Filipino pianist!
18. Explore Sydney on a multicultural food safari
Many non-Christian-dominated countries celebrate holidays that don’t include Christmas, or celebrate it differently, so use this day to explore other cuisines and cultures. Check out Yum Cha at the Marigold in China Town, I have personally done this on Christmas Day, afterwards we walked around Darling Harbour and to the Star Casino for a Messina Christmas Pudding Gelato. Some other stops might include Turkish delights in Auburn, Lebanese food in Punchbowl and Vietnamese in Cabramatta.
19. Stay at a posh (and COVID SAFE) hotel
If you’re up for a splurge, treat yourself to a posh hotel stay. The Shangri-La has fantastic views over Sydney, a Christmas Day lunch and the CHI Day Spa, pool and gym are all open to guests.
20. Take time for solitude
Solitude is about making a conscious choice to be alone, regardless of whether you have a multitude of friends. Solitude is different to loneliness; solitude is about connecting with your whole self, whilst loneliness is about feeling like something is missing.
On your day of solitude, choose to take care of yourself, practice self-reflection, be creative, journal, Marie Kondo a room that needs new life, refuel or sleep if you need to.
21. Start an art journal
When resetting old patterns and choosing new paths, especially around family dynamics, it’s helpful to reconnect with your deeper, soul-self. One way to do this is to journal. Make journaling as creative as you like by using art, colours and collage. I’m going to link to some art journaling resources you may enjoy:
- How to start an art journal, step by step
- How to Combine Drawing and Writing into Deeply Personal Art Journals
How polished your journaling looks, though, is less important than using this time to explore that which brings value, meaning and purpose to you.
21. Get in touch with your spiritual Self
Particularly for those who celebrate other holidays or prefer not to focus on Christmas, this is an excellent time to get in touch with your spiritual Self, whatever that means to you.
If you’re local, head to Centennial Park and walk the Sydney Labyrinth. When walking the labyrinth:
- Release something you wish to let go of on the way in
- Receive the spiritual message or quality (e.g. peace or calm) at the centre
- Engage your will and take your learning back into your daily life on exit
Alternatively, head somewhere which holds spiritual significance for you; it could be a sacred site or a beautiful garden.
Smell the joss sticks and find inner calm, tranquillity and sanctuary in the heart of Glebe. The Sze Yup Temple & Joss House is a rare early example of a 19th century Chinese temple and is open 365 days a year.
Finally, the Vipassana Meditation Centre in the Blue Mountains runs a 10-day retreat over Christmas. Vipassana, which means to see things as they really are, is one of India’s most ancient techniques of meditation. It was taught in India more than 2500 years ago as a universal remedy for universal ills.
22.Learn to paint
Another way to connect is to paint. Artist Chris Zydel says that “Intuitive painting is a powerful intuitive, spiritual and creative practice. And like all practices it requires a fierce devotion. It’s designed to transform your relationship to your intuition. To devote yourself to hearing it. To truly listening to it. To actually knowing when it’s speaking to you. To learning to tell the difference between your intuitive intelligence and your analytical/judging mind. And then to develop a solid allegiance to your intuition by following it and always doing exactly what it says. No matter what.”
And if nothing else, few activities are as soothing as painting happy little trees (or watching Bob Ross do it).
24. Check in to rehab
Well, this took a dark turn, didn’t it? But let’s be real; the holidays can be painful, especially when you’ve experienced or are experiencing family dysfunction.
If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, food, sex, drug, alcohol, gambling or i addiction – check into rehab and start the year anew. Go deep inside, find the real you and connect with others who are suffering with similar issues.
Australia’s leading and truly holistic treatment centre, Byron Private Rehabilitation Centre provides an avenue for you to explore and create a meaningful way of life, beyond current destructive patterns of thoughts and behaviours. You will be supported through the program by an expert team of multidisciplinary practitioners from both the medical and alternative models of health care to achieve your treatment goals. Byron private provides clients with a safe and nurturing environment far removed from the clinical atmosphere of a private hospital setting.
During the pandemic, of course, everything is a bit different. If your nearest rehab is closed due to COVID or if you need support before or afterward, virtual programs (both 12-step and others) are increasingly available. Take a look at the resources available from CoDA, AA and Virtual NA.
25. Camp (or glamp!) at Cockatoo Island
Camp at the water’s edge on the heart of Sydney Harbour, Cockatoo Island , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and experience the magic of the harbour. On Cockatoo Island you will find a place where history and a unique atmosphere have been preserved by an island location. A place to relax and unwind, yet still only 15 minutes from the centre of Sydney.
26. Pull out the tunes
It’s time to fire up your favorite music player. Feel free to find the songs that best express your feelings right now, but avoid letting your song choices make you spiral into dark places by — at minimum — sprinkling your selections with light-hearted songs, because what we listen to directly affects how we feel.
Create some playlists on Spotify for different moods (e.g., uplifting, self esteem, or feeling blue), and check out my Ultimate Self-Esteem Playlist for ideas (or just listen to it whenever you need a pick-me-up).
27. Move your body in ways that you love
With each year we spend on the planet, we absorb messages about our maturing bodies, and often those messages are centred in shame. Feeling shame about our bodies can prevent us both from moving, dancing and from finding pleasure in our bodies.
The benefits of dancing impact us on the physiological, emotional, psychosocial, psychological, neurological and spiritual levels of our being. It can help us to develop an enhanced sense of self-awareness and facilitates us to get in touch with the deeper and unknown parts of ourselves. It is a wonderful form of self-expression and can be used to release painful feelings and traumas that have been somatised in the body.
Dance has been fundamental to human life and culture since the time of our earliest ancestors; a form of self-expression, communication and celebration of life and community.
Dance is therapeutic and movement furthers the emotional, cognitive, physical and social integration of the individual, based on the empirically supported premise that the body, mind and spirit are interconnected. Check out my 5 dance classes blog in the show notes where I link to online free classes in Gabrielle Roth 5 Rhythms, Nia and Qoya.
My dear friend and colleague Amy Babish is also running a live movement class for the solstice on December 21.
Yoga can also be a way of gently reconnecting with your body, in addition to its positive effects on flexibility, stress management and heart health. This course comes highly recommended on YouTube – 30 days of Yoga with Adrienne. And…it’s free
No matter what kind of body you live in, or what that body looks or feels like right now, you deserve to move in ways you enjoy and to exist without body shame.
28. Get wet
If an empty day stretching before you seems more lonely than fun, consider using part of your day to plan a big, fancy, over-the-top bath. (If you don’t have a bathtub plan a big, fancy, over the top shower, sponge bath or other body-centered experience. This is about you, not how good a selfie it will produce. What elements of an absolute dream bath might you be able to make happen?
29. New Times, New Beginnings…
Just beyond Christmas day lies the leap into a new year. When we’re already dealing with family dysfunction and potential feelings of hurt, loneliness, or rejection through the holidays, to be thrust into the harsh light of “how are you going to be a better person next year?” can feel like insult added to injury.
Intention is the best way of navigating the end of the year. As you move through some of the other activities in this list, think about what you’d like the days between now and January 1 to look like, as well as next year. What do you want this time to look like? What skills, boundaries, and activities might make you stronger and happier in the new year?
If you choose to pursue self-development in the new year, approach it from the perspective of adding tools to your toolbox, not fixing a person who’s broken. You are a gloriously whole person already.
I normally recommend the Findhorn Christmas Retreat; however, due to COVID, they have an online offering this year called the Global Transformation Game – New Times, New Beginnings: It’s Ours To Do.
Once again, I am also running my Soul Sessions 1-1 Therapeutic Coaching Packages, where I take you through a creative visualisation, an art therapy exercise and deep dive into your past, present and your potential for the upcoming year. These sessions will help you move forward with a deeper sense of value, meaning and purpose.
30. Create a vision board for the following year
Take #29 a step further and actually envision what next year might look like for you.
Martha Beck calls vision boards ‘a graphic illustration of our hopes and dreams’. Dreaming alone however is not enough. They need to be created and used within a balanced context.
Some of us are naturally ‘dreamers’ and some of us ‘doers’. If we want to reach our goals and bring our visions into being, it means that we need to create a balance between ‘being’ (with our loving, creative, intuitive, soul self) and ‘doing’ (by putting our plans into action by engaging the will of the self).
A vision board is a great tool to assist with:
- New Year’s resolutions
- Intentions
- That which brings us value, meaning and purpose in life
- Desired spiritual qualities that need fostering such as compassion, love, empathy and will
- New creative ideas, opportunities, hopes, dreams, passions and visions
- Healthier relationships, habits and behaviours
You can check out my How to create a vision board blog article in the show notes.
OK, so that’s my 30 COVID Safe Alternatives to a Dysfunctional Family Christmas. I hope this episode supports you and frees you up to make the most balanced choices for you this Christmas and holiday season.
OK, so I have a freebie giveaway – it’s my 100 Soul & Spiritual Qualities Workbook – there is an evocative word exercise in there, a list of over 100 soul qualities that you can draw on to foster in your self and space for journaling. All you need to do is review this podcast on iTunes, screenshot your review and email it to me at [email protected] and I will send you a copy of the workbook.
For the show notes, go to thesoulcentre.online/ soul sessions 30 alternatives to a dysfunctional family christmas
Thanks for listening and by for now.
Do you want to transform your relationship with food, body & soul®? Start here by clicking on the link for a copy of my free eBook, 4 Ways to Befriend Your Body.
