How to Socialize with people when you'd rather not

Ahhh December, the only month when you must  spend an evening of gaiety with your cubicle mates, your bosses, and that overly chatty guy from the office cafeteria. But that’s not all. After the infamous office party is your obligatory invitation to your neighbor’s Christmas soiree, not to mention the big affair itself, and all of your extended family coming for long visits.

Ok, the holiday season isn’t that bad. But it can be frustrating, and at the very least challenging, to hold your tongue when you are attending numerous social events with people who are not your favorites.

For those cases when  not going is simply not an option (is there ANY acceptable excuse for missing your office holiday party?), how can you get through the evening and still maintain your reputation and composure?

To steal a tune from Dean Martin: Let it go, let it go, let it go.

Get-togethers with  people you don’t really care to be with, whether because of personality conflicts, past disagreements or other issues , can be tolerable and even enjoyable. That is, if you learn the simple principle of letting go, upon which The Sedona Method is based.

Letting go is all about freeing yourself of negative emotions. Is Aunt Sally raising her eyebrows because you’re on your second piece of chocolate Yule log? Let it go. Is your team leader talking your ear off about next month’s profits? Let it go. Are you still bristling from your mother-in-law’s unwelcome opinions about everything? Let it go. You get the idea.

When you learn to let go, it’s as if you have an impenetrable shield around you, through which nothing can reach you. Of course, you will allow in everything that’s pleasant, interesting and merry, but the difference is that you won’t be impacted by those feelings on the other end of the spectrum.

Yet, the Method is not about putting your guard up. Quite the opposite. You will find  the more you release, the more you are happily yourself in any situation.

Love yourself as you are and allow yourself to let go of wanting to protect yourself in social situations,” says Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training atSedona Training Associates. “When you guard yourself against others you lose energy and feel uncomfortable. I would recommend that you become open and transparent instead.”

This year as you get ready for holiday events, commit yourself to be free from  negativity, and to release bad feelings in the moment. Continue this into the new year, and you’ll discover that your true self will shine through, and you’ll enjoy the moment, no matter who is around you.

For more information on the life-changing, easy-to-learn Sedona Method, visit our web site at www.sedona.com.