One thing I’ve realized about the Holidays—they’re not “Happy” for everyone.
For the next month we’ll be bombarded with commercials and images that create unrealistic expectations about our experience of Christmastime.
And when real-life doesn’t match up to the visuals of what our Western culture deems a “perfect” Christmas, we can feel sad, lonely and depressed.
How do I know?
Because I’ve struggled with those kinds of feelings more years than I’d like to admit.
One antidote that helps keep them from taking me down and out is gratitude.
Though my discontent at this time of year doesn’t come from a lack of stuff, I wrote some thoughts about gratitude in my last book, Wisdom for the BusyCoach—Volume Two, that both challenge and remind me that I get to choose my approach Christmastime (and life).
Posting it here provides some accountability for me to live my own words! But I hope it will help someone else out there as well:
If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself. —Tecumseh
Each day, BusyCoach, thousands of messages bombard you. Some from the Internet or TV. Others from small talk about the coach down the hall or at another school with a bigger budget, better gear and more gadgets. All of them try to get you to want more.
They heighten your awareness of what you don’t have and supposedly need. This leads to comparisons that bring discontent, anxiety and a hunger for more. Truth is, most of us enjoy more clothes, food and toys than we need to survive.
Focusing on what you do have brings peace. Living each day with a spirit of thankfulness for your blessings keeps you grounded and mindful that more stuff won’t bring you more meaning and purpose.
Whatever life brings your way this week, take the opportunity to express thanks.
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
—1 Chronicles 16:8