Does just the thought of having a house full of guests for Thanksgiving curdle your gravy? We get it. Once again, the holiday season arrives on our doorstep with a heavy suitcase packed full of high expectations. For many of us, these expectations for the perfect holiday are tinged with anxiety and stress – not ideal emotions while we gather with friends and family. Here’s how to say “so long” to a stressful Thanksgiving Day.
Research shows that actually giving thanks at Thanksgiving may hold more power than we imagined. Therefore, we thought it might be helpful to offer some food for thought on how to create a less stressful Thanksgiving for you and your family. The ingredient list is simple – a dash of gratitude with a sprinkling of positive thinking.
Does Being Thankful Make us Happier?
Dr. Robert A. Emmons, UC, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough, University of Miami, are psychologists who have conducted much research on gratitude. One study asked all participants to jot down a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics.
One group wrote about what they were grateful for that week, while another group wrote about their daily annoyances and things that had displeased them. After 10 weeks, those who wrote about the things they were grateful for felt better about their lives and were generally more optimistic about the world.
Practice a Positive Attitude
A positive attitude opens doors and attracts opportunities. Being positive feels good and helps those around you feel good, too. Choose to be around positive people and places as it can have a dramatic effect on your mood.
A positive attitude also means allowing yourself to occasionally wallow in “muddy waters.” When you’re hurt or grieving, it’s good to allow yourself to feel loss and sadness. Just remember there comes a time to move forward.
Help Yourself By Helping Others
Go out of your way to help others by volunteering. Volunteermatch.org can help you create positive change for those around you. Just input your zip code to easily locate volunteer positions available within your community. VolunteerMatch.org offers opportunities in Education and Literacy, Children and Youth, Crisis Support, Animals, Arts and Culture, just to name a few. Nothing takes your mind off your own troubles like helping others in need.
Pat Yourself on the Back
Be proud of your accomplishments and the hard work it took to get where you are. It’s not easy, but try to use your “failures” as the valuable learning experiences they are.
Remember Why We Gather
We’ve all heard Thanksgiving Day is the busiest travel day of the year. Our friends and family don’t travel to taste the perfect pie. Most travel to get to the imperfect people they love spending time with. Now do your part. Accept help if it’s offered (and if you need it), and do your best to do the thing you really look forward to – eating, relaxing, and enjoying your guests.