The golden one
The golden one can seemingly do no wrong, a situation that seems to have existed since birth. For whatever reason they are treated with extra care and respect. What may seem like an unreasonable request by another seems easy enough to do if asked for by the golden one. This can lead to resentment among other family members, particularly those who feel they make an effort and are not receiving the recognition they deserve. Being the golden one may not be the individual's desire – it may simply be the position they find themselves in. If you are a golden one, consider the following:
• Enjoy the care and attention, but be aware of the feelings of other members of your family.
• A sense of inequality can breed jealousy and resentment – question whether the pleasure that comes with the extra care is worth the sense of injustice among your siblings.
• Attempt to maintain a sense of balance between what you put into Christmas and what you receive in return.
• Direct praise away from yourself and onto others where it's due.
The livewire
The livewire tends to get things going, occasionally by going against the grain. Often this individual's behaviour is a source of conversation before, during and after Christmas. When pushed to extremes, the livewire can turn into the rebel, openly and at times purposelessly challenging decisions and opinions – causing friction, anxiety and unrest among the family. The livewire is often single-minded and fiercely independent, so their desire to do as they please can irritate the rest of the family, in particular the regulator. If you are a livewire, consider the following:
• Choose topics that will create debate but won't offend.
• Ask yourself, is the friction generated by your behaviour giving you what you want – would compromise be a better option?
• Separate the people from the problem. Remember an individual can hold a view without epitomising it.
• Are there some issues over which you can accommodate or compromise?
The guest
The guest allows most things to be done for them. They are often busy and effective people who see Christmas as an opportunity to be free from responsibility. They ride the hospitality of others, allowing work to be done around them. There is a fine line between being a guest and being a freeloader; the freeloader takes advantage of the good nature of others. If you are a guest, consider the following:
• Offer to help out with some of the tasks without being asked.
• Remember that we all have some share of responsibility in making Christmas work.
• Allow people to do things for you, but be mindful of when making demands is unreasonable.
This article appears courtesy of Psychologies.
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