Thanksgiving and what to do if you’re feeling stuck

Thanksgiving is less than a week away.  It is another opportunity to reflect on what you have in your life that you are thankful for.  Many times, focusing on what you are thankful for, what is positive and what you can appreciate can shift your mindset and your energy and you begin to feel good rather than not so good.  

But what if you are feeling stuck and you are unable to shift your focus to what you are thankful for?  What it you are unable to find and appreciate the positive things in your life because you feel there isn’t anything positive?  Or maybe you theoretically know there are things you can appreciate but you can’t seem to focus on them or connect with them?

For some people the holidays are a time of joy as they are a time they traditionally spend with loved ones enjoying the moment.  They have fond memories from past holidays and it is easy to continue this pattern.  

For others, there may have been something from the past that they subconsciously bring into the present… maybe you experienced something difficult or sad or hurtful around the holidays in the past, even if in the distant past, and you continue to practice living as if this experience is continuing to repeat itself in the present.  In this way, you practice fear and sadness and hurt, rather than joy and gratitude and appreciation.  As a result you may feel stuck as you are so focused on your past experiences that brought about these memories.  What you focus on is what you attract more of, so you continue to create more negative experiences for yourself.

How can we you break this pattern?  

💫 Understand that what may have been true in the past may no longer be true now.  Whatever hurt you experienced may no longer be happening now.  

💫 Understand that you get very good at whatever you practice… so if you practice recreating your past hurts/negative experiences around the holidays, you will get very good at this and it will come naturally.  

💫 To change this pattern and therefore create a new experience for yourself, you need to practice something different.  How would you like to feel during the holidays?  What would it look like?  

💫 Understand and know your resources.  Was there ever a time in the past you felt the way you would like to feel?  What strengths and values and beliefs supported you then?  

💫 Understand what is standing in your way… what is the challenge or obstacle to creating and practicing a new pattern that will allow you to experience more love, joy, gratitude?  

As a coach I am here to help you clarify what you want, connect with your own inner resources and use them to work through any challenges or obstacles standing in your way.