Using Breath Work When Dealing with Negative People During the Holidays

Every year I watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and just cringe at Peppermint Patty. She has a lot of nerve in inviting herself over to her friend’s house for Thanksgiving plus their other pals and then complains that what is served is unacceptable to pass off as good Thanksgiving fare.

If I’m Charlie Brown, I’m saying to her- “sister, I am 8 years old and you invited yourself over you miserable cow.”

But I’m not Charlie, and I probably wouldn’t have called her a miserable cow, on account of I didn’t use language like that at 8…

Christmas Vacation is another one with a cringe worthy character. Cousin Eddie shows up in that, what was it, tenement on wheels? And plans to stay for a month AND brings his dog.

As my husband used to say, “Art imitates life”.

We chuckle at these happenings yet they happen in real life all the time.



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For those of you who need assistance with saying no or creating boundaries with those Peppermint Pattys, as much as I would love to say, “Tell them to step off you miserable cow!”, that is likely not a message the Lord would be thrilled for me to share, nor would most folks be able to speak such brash words.

Breathe.

Pause.

Listen to your Inner Voice Audios and then, apply the oils appropriately selected for the negative emotion that popped up from your Inner Voice scan. If you have yet to get one for this season, the Deck the Halls event is an ideal choice.

Only then, might the ten toes down and some kinder “step off” types of words will flow.

There is such tremendous power in breathing.

Even more so when a pause is added.

Dealing with the Peppermint Pattys

In the face of a Peppermint Patty type, there is nothing you can say that will change their minds on their behavior. It’s a behavior they’ve been allowed to have in your presence, or anyone’s for that matter, and so to come up with a brilliant speech would be the proverbial pearls before swine.

Those with these people in their lives may see them more often in the days ahead and protecting your soul is key if you are going to thrive in the new year to come.

Finally, before you come face to face with these folks and after, might I suggest a time of journaling or brain dumping?

Brain dumping feels more appropriate here as it is a way to get the mental gymnastics out of your head and onto the paper so that you can clear your mind of it all.

I cannot say this enough, breathe, my friends.

Breathe when the phone rings, breathe when the food goes in the oven, breathe when the company comes, breathe when you arrive at your destination.

Breathing is such a power play.