Thanksgiving is right around the corner. If you aren’t hosting this year, chances are you will offer to bring something to contribute to the family meal. Whether it’s an old family favorite or a new recipe, we will put time and effort into bringing something to share.
While we give a lot of attention to the delicious meal that is certainly a highlight of the day, one thing that we might not remember to consider is the mindset that we are bringing (the same mindset tools that we use for weight loss apply to so many other situations).
I hope that your holiday will be full of nothing but joy, but for many, holidays can be a little challenging. Family members from far and wide will gather in the spirit of the season, and the day will be full of catching up with one another, sharing what’s going on in our lives and often talking about current events. Everyone doesn’t always see eye-to-eye, and that can cause some friction at times. Some relationships are harder than others, which can cause some trepidation about gathering together. And for others, holidays may bring up sadness over the loss of a loved one, or the inability for a loved one to join them that day.
The mindset we bring to these gatherings can make all the difference. If there is any part of the holiday gathering that you are dreading, I would offer you this. Along with the side dish we’re bringing, we can also decide to bring a healthy serving of compassion.
Compassion for yourself if you are struggling in some way, compassion for others that feel strongly about their point of view, compassion for that difficult relationship that decided to come or didn’t. Spending some time to get into the right headspace about you want to show up and how you want to feel in these circumstances goes a long way to ensuring a positive experience on the holiday.
If this sounds too easy, and you could use some help getting there, sign up for coaching on this. I have literally seen it work wonders. You can reach out at https://coachingwithkaren.com for more information.