what halloween & gratitude have in common
On a day like Halloween* – whether you celebrate in commercial and / or more spiritual and pagan ways (or both – long live The Nightmare Before Christmas) – we can take a moment to reflect on:
- what the “spirit world” means to us**
- how we carry our loved ones with us after they pass on (i.e. with gratitude)
- how we choose to live our own lives moving forward (i.e. with gratitude)
(*In the spirit of mainstream Halloween – here’s a decadent chocolate bar you can make at home that tastes not unlike my childhood candy of choice, Reese’s pieces.)
(**In the spirit of personalizing spirituality and offsetting the somewhat spooky vibes of All Hallows’ Eve – enjoy my 7-module Mindful Morning course.)
One way we can choose to live is with daily gratitude – especially as the end of the year and all of its charming (yet sometimes confrontational?) holidays approach.
I know “gratitude” is somewhat of a buzz word and seems to get tossed around a lot in the wellness (and spirit) realm, but it’s trendy for a reason, and it is incredibly effective when infused with mindfulness and heart-felt intention.
For me, for example, learning how to express gratitude every day actually helped me realize how often my brain could really easily slip into lack mentality.
I don’t think I’m alone here, and either way – like it has been for me – learning how to focus more on the blessings we have in our life instead of fearing what we currently or will one day lack (or lose) can be incredibly transformative for our overall mood and wellbeing.
We can even eventually be grateful for the difficult pieces of our lives because of what we’ve learned from them instead of letting our challenges drag us down – from losing loved ones to losing jobs to losing our favorite sweater.
Looking at all parts of life – past, present, and future – through a lens of thankfulness (and certainty) can be explored with trusted spiritual leaders like Kabbalah teacher David Ghiyam, psychologists / meditation teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, and meditation teacher / neuroscience researcher Dr. Joe Dispenza.
The aim isn’t to make life perfect, but simply to recognize how amazing life is just as it is; just as we are.
This also does not mean that we should ignore or bypass fears and challenges (gratitude can actually be an effective tool to help us overcome challenges), because tough times won’t just disappear – even if the challenge is as simple as waking up in the morning, getting adequate sleep, or personal health and relationship issues.
Whatever the weather, gratitude can remind us of the beauty that exists around (and within) us – especially if we express it when we wake up in the morning instead of letting grogginess or to-do list anxieties overtake us.
If it’s helpful to have some examples in cultivating your own gratitude practices* – whether in the mornings or throughout the day – here are a few ways I’ve been expressing gratitude this season:
- Gratitude for Body: Restorative Yoga. I’ve been exploring more intense activities than I’m used to over the past 2 years (namely cycling, Alpine hiking, and climbing), and so my body has needed a lot more recovery time than I’m used to. When your body or mind feels tangled or tense, restoration is a really nice and important way of saying “thank you” to your body for all it does for you (i.e. functioning and constantly aiming to cultivate balance – a Christmas miracle).
- Here’s a short video of 4 soothing postures that supported my own body when it was achy and kaput; check Nikki Costello’s lovely restorative classes too.
- Gratitude for Body and Planet: Yummy Meals. I aim to express gratitude for both my body and the planet by buying local and organic whenever possible (a privilege I am forever grateful for), and using said produce in ways that make me feel both satiated and excited (i.e. trying new recipes, revisiting old personal or family recipes, getting creative with minimal ingredients to minimize waste, etc).
- Gratitude for Mind and Health: Meditation, Mindfulness, and Mindset Shifts. Even though I knew conceptually that stress could wreak havoc on the body both physically and mentally / emotionally, my first-hand experience of it this past year really amped up my awareness and mindfulness practices like meditation (even hypnotherapy) and general mindset shifts when I found myself spiraling around what I lack (a habit I am working very hard to overcome!).
- Gratitude for This Life: Spiritual Connections to Ancestors and Guides (whatever the latter term means to you). As a means of expressing gratitude for those that paved the way for the privileges I’ve had in my life – even if I’m having a hard day – I’ll sometimes envision my grandparents, relatives in my lineage, or ancient spiritual figures and leaders that resonate with me and say “thank you,” or ask for guidance on something I need help with. If anything, it’s a nice way of [re]connecting to and honoring those that came before us.
*An active, general “gratitude practice” can mean:
- showing yourself or another person loving care and kindness (i.e. thanking yourself or someone else via thoughtful actions)
- writing down, meditating on, or sharing out loud what you’re grateful for
- pausing and simply being aware of how grateful you are for something you have (or had) – maybe it makes you smile, take a deep breath, relax your muscles, feel warm and fuzzy, etc
Enjoy the free Mindful Morning ebook and the Mindful Morning virtual workshop to personalize your preferred gratitude and Mindful Morning rituals 🙂
Schedule a free 20-minute call with me if you feel you would benefit from 1:1 support.
What or who are you grateful for today, and how might you practice gratitude when you wake up / throughout the day?
(My personal gratitude practice is writing down 3-10 things I’m grateful for from the previous day [almost] every morning – I also sometimes share 1-3 things at night with my partner during dinner / before bed.)
I’m so grateful for you!
Take good care,
S
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