Secret to Feeling Better About Life in General?

© Michelle Chan

© Michelle Chan

​With the holiday season in full swing, holiday songs on the radio and holiday movies on TV tells us that we should be happy and cheery during this special time of the year. Depending on what your "duties" are during the holidays and who you spend the holidays with, it can either be a joyous time or an extremely stressful few months. So if you're in the latter group, how do you get through this time (and all year round) sane and intact?

Want to know the secret...?

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​One word:

GRATITUDE!

Simple, right? Well... Not quite THAT easy. It does take a little bit of work and practice.

Why should I expect you to just take my word for it? I don't! You can check out this article through Psychology Today, or this article by Newsweek, or even this article by HuffingtonPost! They all discuss how showing gratitude and taking the time to be grateful can improve relationships, better your mental health, enhance your physical well-being, help with sleep, lift your self-esteem, increase resilience, etc.

What's one way to start practicing gratitude? Start a gratitude journal. On a daily basis, write down what you were grateful for that day. If journaling isn't really your thing, just take 5-10 minutes at the end of the day to reflect upon what little or big things you were grateful for during that day.

What are you grateful for, right now, in this very moment?

If you're a parent and you're hoping to instill gratitude in your children, especially during this holiday season, take a look at this article by Huffington Post on "11 Tips for Instilling True Gratitude in Your Kids." And just remember, whatever lessons we hope to pass onto others, we must lead by our actions and examples first!

​HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

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“I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness - it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brene Brown