With Reflection Comes Gratitude

“We do not learn from experience…we learn from reflecting on experience.” – John Dewey, How We Think (1933)

Introduction:

As the year comes to end we find ourselves stressed and busy rushing through the holidays. I have always found it interesting that leading into the holidays we talk about what we are thankful for kicking off with Thanksgiving.  However, for a lot of us, we find ourselves stressed with holiday plans, holiday travel, gift giving and then resolutions within a short 30 day time period. This blog will explore some of those stresses that we often feel during the holiday season and ways to turn to self reflection and gratitude to help us through that stress.

Stress of the Holidays 

As we enter the season individuals will feel stress over many different aspects of the holidays. Some of the major stresses people are feeling during the holidays are:

High Expectations: There is often pressure to create the perfect holiday experience, which can lead to stress. 

 Financial Burden: The holidays can be expensive, with costs associated with gifts, travel, decorations, and hosting events.

Time Constraints: The holiday season is typically filled with numerous social obligations, family gatherings, and events. Balancing work, personal commitments, and holiday preparations can lead to a lack of time and increased stress.

Travel and Logistics: If traveling during the holidays, dealing with crowded airports, traffic, and delays can be stressful. Additionally, coordinating schedules and managing logistics for family visits or hosting can add to the stress.

All of these can cause anxiety throughout the holiday season, however the thing that adds to this the most is our own expectations.  Expectation is defined as a belief that someone will or should achieve something. Just because you believe that  something needs to be achieved doesn't necessarily mean it does. The important thing to remember when you are feeling this type of stress is to slow down and self-reflect. By taking time for yourself to reflect and think about things you will ultimately give yourself an opportunity to relieve that stress. 

Reflection:

Some examples of benefits of self reflection when you are stressed are:

Self-awareness: Reflection allows you to gain a deeper understanding of yourself, your thoughts, emotions, and actions. Understanding yourself will help you set priorities and eliminate some of those stresses caused by  your perception of others expectations. 

Problem-solving: Taking time to reflect provides an opportunity to analyze challenges and find creative solutions. By stepping back and examining the situation from different perspectives, you can generate new ideas and approaches to overcome obstacles.

Emotional well-being: Reflection promotes emotional well-being by allowing you to process and make sense of your experiences. It can help you manage stress, improve self-regulation, and enhance overall mental health.

Appreciation and gratitude: Reflection encourages gratitude and appreciation for the positive aspects of your life. It helps you recognize and acknowledge the people, experiences, and achievements that bring joy and fulfillment.

In writing this blog it has become apparent to me that I have been a little overwhelmed this holiday season and have chosen to dive into the stress rather than reflecting. Over the last few weeks I have had some issues around the house, some family stuff that happened and I got engulfed into work to the point that I put my own pause on Christmas and everything that is important to me. As of a week ago I didn't have a tree up, had not done my shopping and didn't put out my yard Santa. Then I had a friend remind me to focus on what was important and what I can handle. Well, I am happy to say my tree is up, and shopping done, however unfortunately no Santa in the front yard (I like to joke the weather is too nice to decorate outside). In the long run no one is really going to miss him this year. I realized for myself that a lot of my stress was that I was more concerned with what I thought people expected than what was important to me. I know as I enter this week of Christmas and into the new year I need to practice this as much as everyone else. 

Closing

As we bring the year to an end and through the holiday season, I hope this will remind you to take some time for yourself and reflect on the things that are important to you. By doing this, not only just through the holidays, but on a regular basis, you will continue to remember what is important to you. This is not just something to do during the holidays, but something each of us should work on doing on a regular basis.  As we enter a new year, I hope we all can find time to reflect and be grateful for what we have accomplished and not necessarily stress about what the new year brings. By taking this approach we can use our accomplishments and self gratitude to help move forward in what is important to each of us.