Hey y'all, it's Dr Joy. In collaboration with author and breath work expert Z Clark,

therapy for black girls is excited to present to you a six-part meditation series,

thoughtfully crafted to guide you

eesfully through the moments that might make the holiday season

difficult. Happy holidays, y'all, and take good care.

Stressful family members.

Another situation you might experience during the holidays

is having to interact with family members who you have a challenging relationship

with. They might say or do things that you find triggering that really get under your skin.

You might be frustrated that they always act like this.

And you might wish that they were different.

Take a deep breath and accept that you probably won't be able to make them change, at least not on this visit.

Remember, you can't control what they do or say. You can't control how they act. You can't control how they act. But you show up. You can control how you show up. You can control how much you let them affect you.

Repeat this in your mind's eye.

I do not allow others to mess with my inner peace.

I do not allow others to mess with my inner peace.

Now think about what you can do to make sure you keep your peace regardless.

Notice when you're triggered by them. Maybe you notice your muscles tense up,

perhaps a tightness in your chest or a twisting in your belly. When you notice yourself

starting to get triggered, practice belly breathing. Give it a try, right now.

Take a deep breath in through your nose, and as you inhale,

send the breath to your belly, allowing your belly to expand like a balloon.

...