3 Things to Know About Christmas Stress and Holiday Have-To’s (and How to Avoid Them)

The holidays can be full of Christmas stress and “have to’s.” No matter what our personality is— extrovert or introvert, party-person, or home-body.

I have to go to the company party. It would be rude if I didn’t show up.

We have to go to my mother’s house for Christmas Eve. She expects us.

I have to make everyone’s favorite type of cookie. I’ve always done that.

We have to invite cranky Uncle Ted to Christmas. He’s family.

Does any of that sound familiar? If you’re like most of us, you could probably add a dozen more have-to’s of your own to the list.

Here’s the thing with obligation guilt; however: We do it to ourselves. Don’t believe me yet? Here are the only three things you need to know about minimizing your holiday obligations this year.

One: Obligations are never imposed on us without consent.

This may not feel true yet, but the fact is that obligations are never thrust on us. Obligations are, in fact, choices we make ourselves based on information we believe to be true.

Take Tom, for example. He believed that if he didn’t spend Christmas with his family, he’d let everyone down. He didn’t want to spend Christmas at his parent’s house, but he assumed that not showing up would, in some way, be worse. In effect, it was easier to “suck it up and go” and deal with the Christmas stress than it was to confront his parents with a change in plans.

This lack of choice may feel very real to us, particularly when it comes to our closest relationships. We hate to disappoint, hate confrontation, hate to cause confusion, or pain. But here’s the truth: We always have a choice in how we respond to a person or situation. Even though our choices may disappoint others, they are still our choices to make.

Two: Obligations are internally imposed.

To understand this second fact, you first must understand the psychological process of obligation. It goes like this:

1. We receive an invitation.
2. Our inviting host expresses their hopes or expectations for the event.
3. We internalize their hopes and expectations as our own.

Did you catch that? We have an uncanny ability to take on the expectations of other people. The reason we do that is a longer, more varied story. But it remains a fact.

Again, look at Tom’s situation. His parents invited him and his family to Christmas every year, but there was never an ultimatum attached. They never told him to spend the holidays at home, or else. They hoped he would come so the family would be together. And yet, he felt he had no choice but to go. In other words, the inevitability Tom felt about where to spend Christmas was based on his fears. He was so afraid of disappointing his family that he allowed himself no other option and dealt with all of the Christmas stress.

Sure, his brothers may have given him a hard time about changing his plans. Yes, the choice to go elsewhere may have led to uncomfortable (and even angry) conversations with his parents. But his sense of obligation was one of his own making.

The people we love may imply (or say directly) that our choices are selfish. The people we love may know what “buttons” to push to get what they want from us. But button pushing and accusations of selfishness are not acts of love. They’re manipulation. The question I ask, then, is, would you rather feel manipulated or feel loved?

Three: Obligation and compromise are not the same.

Relationships require compromise; it’s true. Tom’s refusal to compromise on his family’s holiday traditions made his wife angry for many years. But acting out of obligation and acting out of compromise are entirely different behavioral choices.

We’ve already established that obligations are choices we make based on what we believe to be true. In other words, they’re not based on facts, but assumptions, and therefore profoundly and inherently flawed.

In contrast, compromises are based on specific and known factors. For two parties to compromise, they must express their wants and needs; they must “get it all out on the table.” Indeed, some compromises favor one party more than another; some are fairer than others. But they are always mutually decided. They always require at least two voices. They always require communication and commitment and partnership—in other words, the stuff of all healthy relationships.

Ultimately, you choose whether to act out of compromise or out of obligation. But know that one choice will strengthen your relationship. The other will harm it. Here’s to a stress-free holiday season for
each of us.

To learn more about relationships and boundaries, go to www.drldabney.com

If you would like to take the next step and receive guidance from Dr. Laura Dabney call or text (757)340-8800.