Welcome to the first of a series of brief “FGHs” to help you survive the Christmas season!
Face Faulty Strategies
Picture the scene -- You arrive at the festive Christmas activity and the room is filled with delicious aromas, colorful lights, joyful music, and a crowd of merry people. As you make your way through the gathering you assess your friends and family. There’s Joe who is still angry about the election...Aunt Sue clearly has had too much eggnog….David and Cathy are fighting again…..Pat wants to be the center of attention….and on it goes.
Scenes like these can trigger us and set our faulty coping strategies into play. We all have our faulty strategies. Some will become passive aggressive or even combative. Others will overindulge with alcohol, food, sex, etc. Some may turn to self condemnation and harm. Many others will just shut down.
All of these tactics can lead to added anxiety and depression so it is important to face our faulty strategies. They also keep us from loving and being loved well. When we know and face our faulty strategies, we are able to repent and choose healthier coping skills which can lead to great love. To help you manage stress and anxiety in a healthy way, become familiar with good coping strategies so that you may better navigate scenes like the one above. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Turn to someone you trust to share your struggle.
- Pay attention to what you are feeling.
- Practice centering exercises such as deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation.
- Nourish yourself well with healthy food, lots of water and plenty of rest.
- Find humor where you are able.
Look for tomorrow’s post as the FGHs will focus on Give Gentleness and Grace.
In His Peace,
Sharon
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. (Ps 139:23-24 NLT)
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