Sometimes it’s tough to bite your tongue when family members get the best of you. Still, Christmas time, the holidays and other occasions are much easier to take if you can find a few ways to keep the peace. Before you head out to that next family lunch or dinner, take a quick look at these tips – you’ll find that smiling and speaking politely is a lot easier than you originally thought!
Leave Your Pride at the Door
While it might be hard not to yell back at someone who’s yelling at you (or being slightly snippy), if you make a pact with yourself not to scream at a family member, then fights are a lot less likely to happen. If someone decides to provoke you, simply leave the room, smile and nod, or take a walk outside.
Consider Peace Talks
Before you arrive at the next family gathering, think about meeting with the one family member who consistently irritates you. By sitting down and talking about your problems, you are less likely to start arguing in front of other family members. Alternately, you can send that particular person a polite email explaining your angst.
Take a Look Inside
If you find yourself arguing with the same person every time your family gets together, then you may want to take a good look at yourself. Are you provoking these arguments? Is there anything you can do to avoid arguing? Are you overly critical or stubborn? Doing a little soul searching will work wonders!
Forgive
This may be the hardest thing of all to do, but once you decide to forgive someone don’t dwell on an argument. Instead, forgive the person, move on, and forget all about your differences of opinion.
Keep Yourself Busy
If you are running around setting the table, bringing food to others, and making sure everyone has enough champagne, then you won’t have time to sit down and argue with family. Try and stay busy, and you’ll find that arguing is tough.
Some People Will Never Even Agree to Disagree
If you confront someone and you both simply can’t see eye to eye or be pursuaded to the other’s belief, then it may be better to just agree to disagree. Live and let live as others have the right to have their own ideas. It may be difficult to finally come to terms with but some family members will never “understand you situation” so if they disagree and do not agree to disagree, then you mau just have to let it go. It may be in you to challenge them so that they see your point of view but at some point, it could be better to just remain silent and let it go.
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