The holidays are here and if you are like so many other families, you may be thinking, “Here we go with the family drama, fights, squabbles, disagreements, etc.”
Internal family dissension can mess with your head and can mess up other areas of your life. It can be challenging to compartmentalize when the dissension is with, or among, those you love the most.
In this episode, Belle Curve hosts Mary Scott Hunter, Liz BeShears, and Rachel Bryars talk about some famous feuds, what we have fought about in our own families, and some ways to cope and make family visits go better.
Perspective matters a lot when it comes to this subject, so you’ll learn a little about a concept from psychology called the “Narcissism of Small Differences”. You will also learn just how common internal family dissension really is.
Key Points:
- Sometimes feuds persist even when no one remembers what they are fighting about anymore. Having the humility to apologize first helps.
- If we find ourselves viewing family members as rivals for affection or resources, we may need to identify and switch away from a scarcity mindset.
- Small differences between otherwise highly similar groups can sometimes feel more pronounced than they should, according to a concept called “The Narcissism of Small Differences”.
- Letting go of expectations of others can be one of the most freeing ways to avoid feeling let down, resentful, or angry.
- There are simple ways to maximize time with your loved ones by choosing intentionality.
Sources Mentioned:
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase – Trailer, 1989
- The Narcissism of Minor Differences from artofmanliness.com, 2015
- Why Families Fight During Holidays – A time for good food, comfort, joy, and … “you could be so pretty if you only lost a little weight.” from The Atlantic, 2013
- The 8 Keys to Resolving Family Conflict from Mediate.com
- HigherEchelon on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
- Listen to Belle Curve on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or wherever you download podcasts and leave us a review! Subscribe to Belle Curve: Apple Podcasts | Android
Belle Curve Podcast is sponsored by HigherEchelon, Inc. and co-hosted by HigherEchelon Director of Marketing Rachel Bryars.