Staying Grounded Through the Festive Season: A Guide for Women Navigating Family Gatherings (Part 6).
Part 6: building your support network.
If you haven’t read the previous parts of my Festive Season blog you can go back and check them out here 1/2/3/4/5
Each week I’ve introduced a new topic which, I hope, will help you to manage the ‘silly season’ with serenity, peace and more joy than you might normally feel.
This week I talk about how to build a strong support network for yourself.
Christmas often stirs up old family patterns. No matter how much time passes, certain comments or behaviour can hit a nerve as if no time has gone by at all.
No woman needs to carry Christmas alone. Support can be the difference between just surviving and truly protecting your wellbeing.
how to set up your support network.
Getting ahead of the game is key here. Our support systems can keep us grounded throughout the year but Christmas can be a particularly triggering time for us. Having your tribe on standby can make all the difference and remember, you are offering your friends the same stress relief by being their sounding boards…it’s a win win!
Connect with friends.
Plan a coffee catch-up with a friend.
Schedule a phone call with someone safe in December.
Your someone safe could be a friend, a family member or a therapist.
Sometimes knowing you have a check-in scheduled is enough to keep you steady.
Reach out for professional support.
Counsellors.
Therapists.
Alternative modalities.
Women’s circles.
Knitting groups or dog walking events etc.
All of these alternatives can prepare you for triggers and strengthen your boundaries.
crisis support services.
Lifeline : 13 11 14 - Crisis support.
1800RESPECT : 1800 73 77 32 - Family violence and sexual assault counselling.
Beyond Blue : 1300 22 46 36
Headspace : Support for young people.
Smiling Mind App : Free mindfulness practices.
closing thought.
Peace doesn’t come from everything going right around you - it comes from the small, strong choices you make to protect yourself.
This season, let those choices lead you towards safety, calm and genuine connection.
I hope you enjoyed this blog series and you have been able to apply some or all of the strategies I presented. I’ll publish a reminder post Christmas morning. Please try to give yourself 10 minutes quiet time on Christmas morning to read it and remember how things could look for you throughout the day.
Have a wonderful Christmas with those you love and I wish you peace and joy.
