Almost all families have someone that is considered the Holiday Grinch. Perhaps this family member is negative, pessimistic, narcissistic, self-absorbed, or enjoys stirring up drama or trouble for other family members within their family. Behavior such as making up gossip or lies about family members, trying to purposely bring up controversial topics such as raising children or politics, or simply sitting and glaring at others during family events with disgust and hatred in their eyes is all too common from Grinches. Whatever the negative behavior, The Grinch in the family always seems to bring the Holiday cheer down a notch or two, or even completely takes it away. Luckily, whether you allow the Holiday Grinch to affect your energy is within your control. Here are some ways that have personally helped me preserve my positive state of mind and peacefulness during the Holidays in the company of the Grinch:
- Visualize a protective energy shield around you. This can be a white tube of light, a rose pink or blue light, or even visualizing a reflective mirror that surrounds your body where everything directed towards you bounces off the mirror and is reflected back at the grinch or the room. Whatever the protective energy barrier is that you have visualized, just go with the flow in your mind and set something in place. It’s amazing how setting the intention to protect yourself and calling in an energy force that you may not completely understand can be effective at helping to preserve and protect your energy.
- Avoid the Grinch. If your family Grinch is a narcissist and does what she/he can to try to provoke an emotional or energetic response from you, just ignore this person. Try to visualize your emotions as separate and detached. Embody a “grey rock” persona, and with a deadpan face, give a short, non-emotional response, and choose to disengage from the Grinch by socializing with other people or leaving the Holiday party altogether.
- Resight a powerful spiritual prayer silently or even verbally. Whatever your spiritual beliefs and practices are, invoke a powerful spiritual being with intention. A simple “God Bless You,” or “God be With You” in “God’s eyes we see the light,” the Buddhist chant “Nam Myoho Renge Kyo,” said with pure intention, power, and love for a high spiritual power, positively impacts your energy field, and allows you to feel more empowered around the negative person.
- Learn to Let Go. Just because someone is “family” by blood ties or law, does not mean you have to allow yourself to be abused and manipulated. The Grinch is a Grinch for a reason. He/she oozes negativity and pessimism. It is not your job to save the Grinch. When or if the Grinch ever develops self-awareness as well as a desire to change, he/she will seek out assistance for change. Focus on preserving and maintaining your own happiness during the Holidays so you can enjoy time with other family members during this special time of year.
