Starting the Holiday Season with a Grateful Heart
When the holiday season starts buzzing all around us, it can be hard to find a moment to catch a breath, let alone feel grateful for what we have. Here at Visiting Angels of Chelmsford, we are planning, decorating, and thinking of others in addition to the calls of everyday life, going at what seems a mile a minute. However, taking the time to feel and express gratitude has been proven to improve such necessary things as sleep, physical health, self-esteem, and of course, mental health. So how do you start something new when the holidays are swirling all around?
Adding a Grateful Practice to Your Life
Finding space to add a new habit can bring its own challenges. Patience is key when starting any practice and giving yourself grace should be step number one. Many people find that writing in a gratitude journal just before bed can help release the stress of the day and calm the spirit before turning off the lights. There is no judgment when writing this journal. You can make a list, recount a memorable moment in the day, or just write down some names. The important thing is to do it every day and start a habit that your brain will look forward to it to decompress and make room for a whole new day in the morning.
To encourage grateful hearts in your family as well as memorialize some of the wonderful moments in your life, you can start a gratitude jar with just a container and some slips of paper. As each member of the family writes what they are grateful for, the jar will fill with happy memories. For a fun family activity, have family members bring pictures to decorate the jar and decoupage with some ModPodge. At the end of the month (or at a holiday or another family event), the slips of paper can be read aloud and a new tradition of bringing gratitude to the whole family has begun.
Take Pleasure in Being Grateful
“Pause in the little moments that bring you peace.” – Kate Nelson, News Editor, verywellmind.com
As you start to see the things that bring you joy and peace in your life, you may find yourself in gratitude without looking for it. When someone sees you in the rain and holds the door for you. When you find your keys in the first place you look for them. When your elderly mother remembers your name. These are the times to pause and reflect, even for a moment, on all the wonderful things that your life has to offer.
With a practice of gratitude, you will be able to open doors to more relationships in your life. You will experience enhanced empathy and reduced feelings of aggression. These changes will not only improve your life, but you will be able to make a difference in the lives of others.
The simple act of counting your blessings can open your eyes to the fact that there are many people in need, and you can turn this personal accounting into an external action that will help others. Finding out how you can impact the world, whether it be through volunteering with elderly members of your community or giving to organizations, can bring a lightness that comes from no other source but finding gratitude in your heart.
Change the Way You Give
For some on your gift-giving list this holiday season, there may not be a way around getting the hot toy for the little ones. But for those who don’t need another tchotchke on the shelf or who can no longer enjoy a high-fat, high-sodium, meat and cheese gift set, consider a less tangible but certainly no less heartfelt gift. Your donations to organizations working to better the world can make a direct difference in the lives of people on the other side of the world or right here in Massachusetts (Grameen America makes microloans in many states in the US, including MA, grameenamerica.org).
Beyond Gratitude
Adding a practice of gratitude can enhance your life, but sometimes there are issues that strain your inner peace, like caring for a loved one. When you find yourself grateful but still overwhelmed with family caregiving, call Visiting Angels of Chelmsford at 978-244-0200 to restore the balance in your life. By bringing in an experienced, professional caregiver, your entire family can have peace of mind and keep your loved one in the home, where they most want to be.