Be Grateful at Christmas

It’s the season of Turkey, trifle and last minute shopping.

It’s also a time for giving, receiving and being thankful: a wonderful act of gratitude that I teach my students and clients to do on a daily basis; particularly for those struggling to shift negativity.

When our attention is constantly focused on the annoying, unhappy, challenging, or just plain hard aspects of our lives, a low mood and feelings of helplessness can consume us – especially at Christmas time.

In this state of mind it’s all too easy to forget that whatever it is, that it will pass.

In the meantime, we have so many wonderful people and things in our lives that can help support us through it – if we only acknowledged and allowed them to.

Being thankful (showing gratitude) is a wonderful tool for shifting our perspective. It’s like declaring: Despite all the horrible things that might be going on around me at the moment, I accept this as part of my journey right now, and I am even more thankful for what and who sustains me through these tough times.

Starting a daily gratitude journal is a very quick, powerful and present way to value the important aspects of your life.

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Taking a few minutes to actually acknowledge, write down and reflect upon the beautiful and happy blessings that you do have in your life, helps put life into perspective: These things will pass but you are always loved and supported.

Consider some of the things that you often take for granted, completely ignore, or forget about in times of stress.

Here are a few things to be thankful for: health, family, friends; a home, a job, food; the air in your lungs, the cells in your body, the awareness to choose, the ability to read and write…etc.

Being grateful, or giving thanks, is a positive and immediate shift in your mental, physical and emotional state.

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To cultivate gratitude, spend a few minutes in the morning, either in meditation or simply a few deep breaths over your paper, or morning green juice or coffee.

Think about what is good in your life: what you appreciate having, knowing or being able to do.
Notice how your body and mood responds while you’re thinking about these things.

Take a few moments throughout your day to write down what you’re grateful for when you think of it.

Perhaps stick it up around your home or office to catch your eye and reaffirm it when needed.

Use those few minutes before bedtime to wind down from your day, let go of the unnecessary worries or thoughts that were weighing on your mind, and refocus your attention onto what you are thankful for in your life.

Write down 5 things you are grateful for, beginning each new sentence with “I am grateful for”. Go to sleep with a less worried mind and wake up with a more peaceful and happy one.

Very soon you will find more and more to be grateful for, and breathe a little easier through the stress of the festive season.