Gratitude in a Moment of Chaos
Ooof, it’s been a rough week, friend.
We had to take my son to the ER this week. He’s going to be ok, thankfully. But we have a long road ahead of us.
This week the rest of my life has been on pause. I’ve traded coaching calls and podcast interviews for chasing down health providers and last-minute meetings with school.
It’s been stressful, and I’ve been handling it as best as I can. So much worry. So many competing opinions. No “right” answer.
By Friday morning, I crashed. I simply could not keep my eyes open. I curled up on the couch next to my son, wrapped myself in a blanket, and fell asleep to the sounds of his favorite video game on the ipad.
Two and half hours later, I opened my eyes and saw my beautiful boy next to me. Calm, content, connected. No urgent crisis. Just a kiddo and his mom and the stillness of the moment.
And I felt grateful.
Try This Out
Gratitude is an interesting topic – one that we habitually revisit this time of year.
While I could tell you all the reasons why gratitude is important…
Or explain what gratitude means in my life…
I actually think cultivating a relationship with gratitude is extremely personal.
So today I want to offer you a structure to explore what gratitude means to you, and clarify its presence in your life.
This activity is called “Two Lists.” Take two pieces of paper. At the top of the first, write, “What diminishes gratitude.” At the top of the second paper, write, “What nurtures gratitude.”
As with many of the activities I suggest, go for quantity. Start with the first list, and see how many examples, feelings, situations, even people you can think of. Then do the same for the second list.
When you’re done, take some time to reflect:
What does it look like and feel like to be on the first list?
What keeps you stuck on the first list?
What benefits, if any, come to us when you stay on the first list?
What does it feel like to be on the second list? How do you know when you’re living on the second list?
What’s possible when you show up, hold yourself and act from the second list – for your work? For your family? For yourself?
Bonus points: while this is a great solo activity, you could enlist the input of the people sitting around your Thanksgiving table! Talk about a fascinating dinner conversation.
What To Do Next
This is also the time of year when people start thinking about the year ahead – and wanting to make a change.
Whether it’s a new job, a new city, or a new goal – you don’t have to make these decisions on your own. The Career Strategy Intensive is a powerful kickstart to help you get unstuck, clarify and define your plans, and make change happen – all in 4 weeks.
I have openings for Intensives in January, and let me tell you… knowing that you have this time lined up in 2026 is the BEST way to ensure you can relax over the holidays.
Check out the details and get in touch if you have any questions!
Onward,
