Belonging During the Holidays

A guide to transform heated conversations into healthy connections.

If you know me well, you know that I love the holidays. In fact, I love to celebrate all good things in life, which always starts by gathering with family and friends. There are so many challenges and pressures that life brings us. In a world where nothing is promised to us, the holidays give us a chance to give thanks for what we have and continue to be given.

The difficult times in which we live provide a backdrop for our lives and our experiences. We must be aware of all that is happening around us, but if we concede to the chaos, what does it leave for us? It is why during this time, I use each moment to focus on what I can control – the love and connections that are most important.

I take learnings from my parents and grandparents from how they navigated life over the decades. My grandparents had very little as immigrants coming to America. My grandmother, who was blind, always told us, “Darling, make everyday a holiday.” She was right. Now that we have the holidays ahead of us, let’s remember to make each day a holiday and take advantage of them – one by one. It may mean waking up each day with a different and more positive perspective. It may mean one extra conversation. It may mean one extra embrace. Or it may mean one extra deep pause before reacting, or even better, walking away from a challenging conversation.

Recognize that divisive times make for uncomfortable conversations and situations. It is up to us how we want to listen and respond. In these moments, it is not about the reaction, it is about the art of listening. It is an amazing gift and one we can share.

There are times that will frustrate us and even cause us to say something that we may wish we held to ourselves. For this situation, we have created a special guide, Heated Conversations to Healthy Connections. Check it out below and see if there is something that you can use – or if not, something that may make you smile. And, no matter what happens during the holiday season, there is nothing wrong with extra smiles!

However you approach the holidays, I hope yours are filled with wonder and excitement –for what is and for what can and must be going forward. And, in the spirit of thanksgiving, I give thanks for all the beauty (even that of which I cannot immediately see) and love around me. No matter what I have or do not have, I have you and your friendship. And, for me, that is more than enough.

Brad

For more exercises, tools, and tips on being a human-centered leader, you can order a copy of Belonging Rules at the link below:

https://bit.ly/3VYo6Nr