How can you sustain a good attitude when the holidays don’t look the way you want, especially after a tough election season and an overall challenging year? Exercise your civility muscle, advises Jim Kendall, LCSW, CEAP Manager, Work/Life Connections-EAP. In Health Plus’ December/January 2021 issue, Kendall outlines seven things we can do to take control over our attitudes, behaviors and speech and maintain a spirit of politeness and courtesy:
1. Commit to being respectful.
2. Accept that good people can have different ideas.
3. Give up the idea that you will change someone’s set beliefs through your social meme or post.
4. Don’t make personal attacks or resort to name-calling when talking about ideas.
5. Since communication is about the words we say, the tone we use and our body demeanor, be intentional about being open to hearing others. Listen to understand another’s point of view.
6. Take some deep breaths before responding. Those few moments can help you think before you say something hurtful that you may regret.
7. Focus on maintaining the relationship and resolving the issue rather than being right.
Thinking more intentionally about civility and collectively resolving to be kinder and more respectful would be a great way to ring in the new year.
