Thanksgiving: The Power of Gratitude
Despite the stress and anxiety that holidays can bring, Thanksgiving is a great time for us to take a moment and reflect on what we are grateful for. Gratitude is an essential part of the self-care practice, and a great dinner table topic while enjoying your Thanksgiving meal!
Understanding Gratitude:
Gratitude is the practice of identifying your appreciation and thankfulness, and recognizing the positive factors in your life. Reflecting on what we are grateful for allows us to recognize and appreciate the positive values/people/things in our life that contribute to our overall happiness. Many studies have shown that people who practice gratitude regularly often report increased happiness, reduced stress, strengthened relationships, better sleep, and higher likelihood to spread kindness and generosity. Gratitude allows us to live a more fulfilling, positive, and content life.
Challenges of Gratitude during Thanksgiving:
You may be thinking, how am I supposed to practice gratitude when I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed all day long? Many people view Thanksgiving as a stressful day filled with complicated family dynamics, or stress about the financial strain. Sometimes, we feel we should be feeling more grateful than we do. Maybe we have lost a loved one, and finding gratitude is hard without them by your side. Some feel a disconnect with the historical and cultural aspects of Thanksgiving which may impact the ability to find gratitude on this day. Although these may be true, practicing gratitude may actually alleviate the stress of these challenges we face.
Strategies to Cultivate Gratitude:
Gratitude Rituals: Start a ritual with your family every Thanksgiving. Go around the dinner table and identify 1-3 things you are grateful for this year, prior to starting your meal. Have a Gratitude Jar in the middle of the table for people to write down what they are grateful for. You can pull out the pieces of paper at dinner and discuss the various answers.
Mindfulness: Take a mindful moment at some point during the day. Sit on the couch, close your eyes, and embrace your environment. Smell the food cooking in the kitchen, hear the laughs and chatter from your loved ones, or see the decorations around the house. You could also listen to a guided meditation to lead you in this mindful moment. Go for a walk and listen to the meditation, or ask a family member to join you.
Volunteer: Get a group of family members together and sign up for a volunteer activity on Thanksgiving day. This is a great way to connect with loved ones, and give back to the community in a meaningful way. If there isn’t a volunteering opportunity available that day, collect donations from your loved ones and donate to a food or clothing drive, or contribute to a charitable cause of your choosing.
Vocalize your Gratitude: Encourage others to engage in conversations with you about gratitude, and make sure to point out moments you are feeling particularly grateful. Leading by example allows others to feel comfortable to do the same.
Digital Detox: Turn your phone off for the day. Try to really embrace the day, and avoid distractions of social media. Focus on the genuine interactions with those around you, and allow yourself to avoid comparing your holiday to others.
By implementing these gratitude practices into your Thanksgiving day, you create an environment that encourages others to reflect on their appreciation, and embrace the present moment. These traditions can be so beneficial for the whole family, and you may be surprised by how open others are to try out something new!
Written by: Piper Benjamin