“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie
During the Holidays, we are often bombarded with healthy eating and weight loss tips that may seem laughable during a season where overabundance is front and center. While healthy eating and exercise are very important during this time of year, an often overlooked aspect of wellness may be the most important, our mental and emotional health. It’s easy to focus on others during the Holidays and get caught up in the “busyness” of the season without making sure that we are managing our stress and truly enjoying this time of year. While most of us would have trouble finding time to learn new meditation skills or pick up a new relaxing hobby during the time between Thanksgiving and New Years, one thing that we can do to make sure that we are paying attention to our mental health is expressing Gratitude. Of course, Thanksgiving is the big “kick-off” of the gratitude season, but unfortunately because our busy lives often get in the way, this feeling comes and goes by very quickly as November turns to December.
Gratitude has been shown to have many positive effects on our health, improving stress levels as well as immune function. During a season that usually stresses our body to the max, why not try a little gratitude on for size?
Gratitude is defined as the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Aside from the health benefits of gratitude, practicing this virtue during this time of year can help you actually enjoy the Holidays, not just make it through them! By working through some of these gratitude tips, hopefully you will have a Holiday Season that brings many wonderful memories without some of the stress.
1. Slow down and recognize the true beauty of the season. There are so many new experiences for us to see, we are often too preoccupied to notice the beautiful trees, lights and decorations that we only have the chance to view for a short period of time during the year. Take your time to notice and appreciate the specialness of the season.
2. Recognize and be thankful for the gifts that we have and the people that are in our lives. Use this month to express your gratitude for the people in your life and to give thanks for all of the blessings that we are fortunate to have.
3. Change your approach. It is impossible to be anxious, worried or envious and grateful at the same time. A habit of gratitude does not come overnight, but must be consciously worked on throughout the day. Visit your normal daily occurrences with a new sense of gratitude. When anxiety or worry creeps up, replace that thought with a positive thought.
4. Keep track. Make a commitment each day to write down five things that you are grateful for. Each morning when you wake up, write these five things down and carry them with you throughout the day. When a challenge strikes, pull out your list.
5. Be mindful. Notice the sights, smells, experiences of the season. When challenged with a difficult experience, find one thing you are grateful for. Even those long lines at the store could provide opportunities for gratitude.
6. Take your time and be patient with others. Each of us is blessed to have special people in our lives. Use this time of year to connect with those individuals to re-invest in or enhance those relationships. Be patient with family and friends, remembering that this is the season of giving and sharing, use it to take some extra time to listen and lend a helping hand.
In the end, the Holidays are a wonderful season to be enjoyed by all. Make a conscious choice to not overextend yourself during the next couple of weeks and slow down your pace so you are able to truly enjoy the things that you are thankful for. Practicing gratitude in the upcoming weeks will not only help you avoid the stress of the Holiday Season, but will also be a great start to a New Year filled with optimism and hope.