As Thanksgiving approaches, different emotions arise for different people. For those struggling with depression, loneliness, or strained family relations, Thanksgiving can be a painful holiday. There is little to feel thankful for. Many such people wish that the holidays could pass as quickly as possibly. Some have even said that they wished they could hibernate through them and wake up on January 2nd so they could avoid them altogether.
So, why be grateful? Research has shown that whatever we focus on seems to become more prominent in our lives. Research subjects randomly assigned to track what they're grateful for ended up feeling happier than other people randomly assigned to track either neutral or negative events in their lives. Even if you have to start pretty small and simple, be grateful for the air that you breathe and for lungs to breathe it. Be grateful for a blue sky or a sunset or a sunrise. It's hard to be critical of a sunset. If you make it your resolution, you can probably find something redeeming about even the most difficult of relatives. Focus on one small thing that even an ornery relative has done in a given day. If you make that your focus, your day is likely to end up differently than if you focus on that person's more identifiable faults and weaknesses.
Small gratitudes usually lead to bigger ones. So start creating a new habit of seeing things you can be grateful for. It's a gift to give yourself this Thanksgiving. If you try and you just can't get 'there' from 'here' ask for some assistance. In the Chicago area, consider someone from Heritage Professional Associates. Outside of the Chicago area, ask someone whom you trust for the name of a reputable mental health professional.
