Beat the Holiday Blues with a Five-Minute Thanksgiving Exercise

The holiday season is a mixed bag.

Hopefully, you’ll get to enjoy at least some of positives—family, friends, parties, gifts, time off work and travel. But you’ll probably also have to face at least some of the negatives— stress, busyness, disappointment, loneliness, depression and financial pressure.

When you’re feeling the downsides of this sometimes dubiously named “Season of Cheer,” try this quick exercise to lift your mood:

Think of various categories in your life, then for each one, remember something you’re grateful for in the past year. 

This is in no way denying the very real hardships of what was an extremely difficult year for so many. But even if 2021 has been brutal for you, I’ll bet you can find some things to be grateful for. Here are some of my examples from this year:

FAMILY – I’m so grateful I got to officiate my son’s wedding and have an extended visit with my daughter.

FRIENDS – I’m so grateful for the many vaccine-enabled reunions with my friends.

CAREER – I’m so grateful that, after years of trying to break in as a children’s book author, I got my first book deal (a series with Penguin Random House slated to begin summer of 2023).

HEALTH – I’m so grateful that my dad survived his heart surgery.

NECESSITIES – I’m so grateful that I always had more than enough food, clothing and comfortable shelter.

WANTS – I’m so grateful that my wife and I got to renew our love of travel with several cross-country road trips.

So how about you? What are you grateful for in 2021? What categories would you choose? Take a few moments to ponder. Think outside the box. Be specific. Choose gratitude. If you do, you’ll give your mood a boost, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.