Listen to this episode
On this episode
The Christmas season can be a time of stress and disappointment, especially when our expectations don’t match up with reality. We can find ourselves dealing with difficult family members, feeling overwhelmed with work and family obligations, or experiencing a general sense of dissatisfaction.But there’s plenty we can do to make the festive period more enjoyable and less overwhelming.
This week, we’re revisiting a previous conversation on the podcast, with Corrina Gordon-Barnes. In her chat with Rachel, you’ll learn how to turn expected disappointments into a game of bingo, set realistic expectations, and exercise some self-compassion.
By taking proactive steps, we can create a more positive and fulfilling Christmas experience.
Show links
More episodes of You Are Not a Frog:
- Should I Stay or Should I Go? – Episode 89 with Corrina Gordon-Barnes
- How to Ditch the Saviour Complex and Feel More Alive – Episode 88 with Rob Bel
Download the episode’s workbook and CPD form. You can use them for reflection and to submit for your appraisal.
About the guests
Dr Corrina Gordon-Barnes, CPCC, coaches new managers in time management and giving effective feedback. She’s passionate about seeing workplaces where colleagues speak honestly, give and receive feedback gracefully, and act with integrity. She believes these environments make it much easier to be innovative and effective, hit deadlines, and create the most powerful impact.
Follow Corrina Gordon-Barnes
Reasons to listen
- To learn strategies to cope with the expectations and negative experiences that come with the holiday season
- To discover the concept of playing “Christmas Bingo” to approach disappointments with humour and acceptance
- To gain insights on how to navigate triggering situations and avoid falling into familiar patterns of conflict
Episode highlights
Christmas disappointments
Christmas Bingo
What you can do to avoid disappointent
Playing out the old dances
Your zone of power
Lowering your expectations
Self-compassion in the face of disappointment
Hunt the Pony
Handling regret
Corrina’s top 3 tips
Episode transcript
[00:00:00] Rachel: You are another year older, but are you any wiser? As we’re coming up to the holiday season, I’m reflecting on last year and how I coped with all the expectations of Christmas, including some of the more negative expectations of irritation with certain members of my family. [00:00:15] Last year I had a convenient gout jail free card as I broken my ankle and was able to sneak off to the gym for some rehab while the rest of the family trudged around the lake in the cold and rain. But this year, I’m going to have…
