Cultivating A Mindset Of Appreciation For A More Joyous Holiday Season
The holiday season is a tapestry woven with varied threads of emotions. While threads of joy, warmth, and anticipation naturally stand out, there are also threads of stress, anxiety, and pressure weaving through this emotional canvas. At Insights Counseling Center, we acknowledge the complexity of these feelings, especially during this festive period. One way to help navigate through a tumultuous sea of emotions is by consciously focusing on what we cherish and appreciate, rather than dwell on the aspects that bring discontent or distress. This shift in perspective can be a powerful catalyst for change, infusing our lives with more joy and tranquility.
The Power of Appreciation
Appreciation can be understood as acknowledging the goodness in life—from the profound to the mundane. It's about seeing the positive in the world surrounding us and savoring it. The practice of appreciation is akin to shining a light on the blessings that already exist in our lives, even when they are surrounded by shadows of difficulty.
According to positive psychology, a strand of psychology that focuses on individual growth and flourishing, appreciation can boost our overall life satisfaction and happiness levels. It sends an affirming message to our brain: "There is much in my life that is good, worthy, and positive."
Rewiring our Brain through Appreciation
Our brain tends to have a negative bias—it's an evolutionary mechanism designed to help us remember threats and avoid danger. However, this bias, left unchecked, can lead us to linger excessively on negative experiences and overlook the positive ones.
The practice of appreciation helps to counteract this natural negativity bias and re-wire our brain to focus more on the positive aspects of our lives. Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to form new neural pathways, means repetition strengthens these new paths. Thus, the more we cultivate appreciation, the stronger the neural pathways become, making it easier to be in a state of appreciation with time.
Practicing Appreciation During the Holidays
In the festive flurry of the holidays, moments of appreciation can prove extra potent. Here's how to cultivate them:
Be Mindful: Slow down and tune into the present moment. Notice the joy, warmth, and love often present during the holidays. From the twinkling lights to the comforting aroma of a favorite dish, there is much to appreciate if we pause and pay attention.
Keep an Appreciation Journal: Document moments, experiences, or things you cherish each day. Not only does this practice help you shift from focusing on frustration or stress to savoring the present, but it also provides a record of positive experiences to reflect on during challenging times.
Express Gratitude: Sharing appreciation with others deepens our own experience of it. Simple words of gratitude to family and friends can foster an environment of mutual appreciation and amplify joy during the festivities.
It is important to remember that appreciating is not about denying or suppressing the tough moments. It's about shifting our focus, broadening our perspective, to encompass positivity during difficult periods, much like seeing the stars in a dark sky.
Appreciation in Couples: A Journey of Togetherness
When two people consciously choose to cultivate appreciation together, it establishes a strong foundation for a relationship rooted in positivity and emotional support. This joint effort can:
Enhance Communication: Sharing appreciation in a relationship encourages open, honest, and positive lines of communication. In doing so, it fosters a deep connection and mutual understanding between the two of you as a couple.
Reinforce Emotional Bonds: Recognizing and appreciating the goodness in one another strengthens the emotional bonds within the partnership. It reminds each partner of the qualities they cherish in the other and reinforces their love and connection.
Create a Haven of Positivity: By jointly focusing on the positive aspects of their relationship and lives, couples create a nurturing and supportive environment that can help buffer them from stress and challenges.
Appreciation: The Gift that Keeps Giving
As you explore the power of appreciation this holiday season, you are planting seeds of change that can bloom throughout the coming year. The beauty of this practice is that the more we engage in it, the more its effects ripple outward, influencing our mindset, emotional well-being, and relationships.
This holiday season, we invite you to unwrap the gift of appreciation—not just for the joy it can bring into your life, but also for the strength, resilience, and hope it can inspire. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. At the Insights Counseling Center, we are here to provide support for your journey towards healing, understanding, and growth. Here's wishing you a holiday season filled with appreciation and joy!