Unlocking the Power of Gratitude: Your Secret Weapon Against Holiday Blues
Fall is in full swing, holiday decorations are popping up, and soon the holiday season will be fully upon us. For a lot of people, this is a happy time of year full of connection, food, celebrations, gift-giving, and a whirlwind of holiday activities. The holidays and the upcoming winter season can also be hard for folks. For some, the holidays can be a really challenging time as there are painful family dynamics to navigate, memories of loved ones who have passed away may be closer to the surface and can bring up painful emotions, we may find ourselves longing for the things we don’t have, we may be judging ourselves for not reaching our goals this year, and a variety of other sucky reasons. Add to this the cold rainy or snowy weather and the grey skies that come along with winter, and it can be a recipe for holiday or winter blues that can impact one’s emotional state, mood, motivation, and so much more.
Practicing gratitude can be a balm for a weary human experiencing the blues. Here are a few ways it can help:
It can help you shift your focus towards what you appreciate in your life, instead of what is lacking in it. Practicing gratitude can help you dig for, recognize, and acknowledge the good things present in your life. Over time, this can help shift your perspective to one of abundance.
A gratitude practice can help you gain a more balanced perspective on your life. The human brain is great at comparison, maybe too great, and the holiday season is filled with opportunities for comparison and feelings of inadequacy to pop up. Shifting your mindset to focus on gratitude helps broaden your perspective of your own life, what you do have, and what you have accomplished, and in doing so it shifts your focus away from comparisons and towards the abundance you already have.
Practicing gratitude can also help you strengthen social connections and relationships. Expressing your gratitude to family, friends, colleagues, and even the friendly checkout clerk, can generate great bonding experiences and interactions. In turn, feeling more connected to those around you can increase your emotional well-being which acts as a buffer for the winter blues.
Try one (or more) of these gratitude practices over the next few months:
Keep a daily gratitude journal. At the end of each day, reflect for a minute or 2 and write down 3 things you are grateful for. Be as specific as you can in your journal. Remember that there may be many more small moments of gratitude than big ones, and all of your gratitudes are powerful and important.
Gratitude grams: Who has made a positive impact in your life or gone out of their way to support you? Send a thank you note, card, email, or text expressing your appreciation and thankfulness. Be specific about the ways in which their actions or presence has influenced you and why you are grateful for their presence in your life.
Gratitude Contemplation: take a walk, sit somewhere peaceful, or meditate to reflect on people and things you’re grateful for in your life. Focus on the present moment and notice the blessings around you.
If you found this post helpful and would like to dive deeper into developing a gratitude practice, check out my upcoming Invite Gratitude Into Your Life coaching program that begins in February 2024. Space is limited, and early-bird pricing is available through 12/21. Give yourself the gift of gratitude this holiday season.