Do you struggle with feeling like Thanksgiving is just an energy drain and a source of stress?
I struggled with this a lot in the past – reliving old patterns and fighting myself about food. But I’ve learned that Thanksgiving has the potential for being a positive and healthy event!!!
Here are three ways I’ve turned Thanksgiving (when I get together with my family) into a day that nourishes by mind, body, and soul.
1. Take time to check in and be yourself before the festivities begin.
This might mean you do some breathing, meditation, workout, or dance and sing like crazy to your favorite song in the car on the way there! (not sure how to meditate or just hate it? Check this out!)
When you center in with yourself, it can create energy and patience to take into your family interactions.
2. Notice any ingrained behavior patterns when you’re with your family
Does an old version of yourself pop out in response to a comment your sibling makes… despite doing YEARS of therapy and yoga!? As much as we grow and change, our brain will revert to known relationship behavior when we’re faced with people that helped develop our brains.
A few years ago, I took time to identify family triggers, and practice accepting each family member and appreciating them as they ARE. I’ve created some of the happiest times with my family since letting go my of ideas of how I wished they would change, and found that they often changed in ways that surprised me as I began to show up with more acceptance and love.
Drop expectations, show up as you are and consciously choose to be with your loved ones as THEY are*. No “should” or “used to” or “always.” Just moment by moment.
*Behaviors that are abusive in any way are never acceptable and this piece of advice doesn’t apply to abuse.
3. Practice food gratitude and celebrate the act of self-nourishment by eating slowly and enjoy Every. Single. Bite.
Our Thanksgiving’s history is more complex than most of us were taught, and sadly has ties to days of thanks-giving celebrating violence, massacre, and oppression toward the native peoples of our country.
The least we can do for them and for ourselves is be grateful for what we have instead of wallowing in self-loathing and stressing about things that ultimately carry little importance. Some boycott the holiday because of it’s bloody historical ties. I cherish this time when my family gathers, and find that acknowledging the bad with the good helps me to more effectively practice gratitude for things that serve the greater good, along with practicing unconditional love toward myself and others.
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The hard workouts always teach you the most, and family holidays are a crucible sometimes. Give yourself grace. Practice new things. Eat the pie. (Pie is delicious.)
What are YOUR best tips for a mindful (maybe peaceful?) Thanksgiving!?
