Now is a good time to look at what you want to improve on for the new year. What are your weaker points? How do you plan to work on improvement? Keeping a daily log is very helpful if you want to track improvement. Practice of the new behavior needs to occur daily if you really want to change. It is no easy task.
Many people get depressed over the holidays. Is Is it too much rushing about, fighting the increase in traffic, expecting a magazine glossy looking house or lots of friends around?
We need to be realistic and not try to do too much, understanding that the holidays are for relaxation, nor frantic entertaining or non stop shopping. Simplify everything, if possible.
Please see my article on my website re laughter’s importance in relationships. We do not always have to be so serious and intense about everything. Just avoid sarcasm as a weapon. Sarcasm is often anger masked as playfulness.
I advise families to have weekly activities together, whenever possible. The marriage partners need time apart too, which we call date night. But the family sitting together talking, listening to music, playing board games, or even watching something interesting on t.v. is important. Parents need to get their kids interested in what is going on in the news, what is going on in the world aside from their personal worlds.
The purpose of developing good self esteem is to get to the point where self esteem is not an issue any more. You can grow beyond worrying about your self esteem. This idea refers to not needing everyone’s approval and being acceptant of what you are doing, knowing that you might be in error and that too can be accepted. Self esteem is a high goal to achieve and to go beyond it, even higher.
Once children are adults the same rules of parenting do not apply. It is important to treat these grown ups with respect and not give unsolicited advice or criticism. Boundaries can be set for new behaviors on both sides so that no one harbors resentment. Not an easy task but doable
It is important to treat your partner with the courtesy you would use with other people. This means that you do not use insulting words or sarcasm to put your partner down. We all deserve better