As the holiday season approaches, whatever that means for you, I encourage you to start with a gratitude practice. In my book, River to Ocean: Living in the Flow of Wakefulness, I propose the idea that is both a mindset and a practice: of being thankful for everything, not because it is all easy and/or fun, but because wakefulness is often about seeing the good in what is unfolding and when we can’t find it, trusting that what is happening serves in some way. For example, a headache can include gratitude for a body that tells us something is wrong. A relational miss can be super hard while at the same time offers opportunity to communicate consciously, own our part, and potentially challenge our projections. If the miss is big enough, it is then also a chance to do repair work, which ultimately deepens our relationship.
So I invite you to experiment and see what happens this week as you engage in your life with a grateful heart. You don’t have to wait until you are sitting around the Thanksgiving table. In fact, if right now you take a long, deep breath, perhaps you will immediately appreciate how quickly your body responds with greater relaxation and ease.