Gratitude--Find the Upside at Thanksgiving

As Thanksgiving approaches, families are struggling financially and emotionally to make ends meet. During a time when traditionally we give thanks, many individuals feel lost and hopeless. To negate these feelings of despair, it is important to focus on what we do have instead of what we don’t, and to count and celebrate our blessings, both large and small.

Gratitude excerpt from the book, Upside, How to Zig When Life Zags:
One of the most powerful attitude adjusters is to give thanks for all aspects of your life—the good, the bad and the ugly. Acknowledge the support of loved ones and newfound freedom. Continue by expressing gratitude for the not-so-happy circumstances, which is an extremely powerful way to develop a positive outline regardless of your situation. You can’t be depressed if you are feeling thankful.

Begin today by listing all the people, relationships and aspects of your life for which you are grateful.

The holiday season is also an opportunity to begin new family traditions to mesh with the stubborn reality of today’s tough economic times. Find ways to economize on an elaborate family dinner by each person bringing his or her favorite holiday dish in potluck fashion. Discuss the upcoming holidays by suggesting gifts in line with affordability or drawing names for a gift swap to reduce the amount spent by each family. Be mindful with a gift from the heart, providing needed services such as home repairs, babysitting, tickets to a movie or doing something for an individual that he or she would not or can not normally do for themselves. Your thoughtfulness can create meaningful memories while being practical during these times.

Politics and the American Dream

The American dream has been brought up frequently in political campaigns and in news articles. In "Fantasy Politics” by Christopher Caldwell, (New York Times November 7, 2010), he says, “If the American dream has appeared endangered since the housing bubble brought the financial systems to the brink of ruin, that is with good reason.”

In UPSIDE, Allison and I discuss the need to reevaluate the American Dream in light of the changing times. “What was materially achievable and available for the previous generation is now difficult to accomplish. It will be even more difficult for subsequent generations. While the concept of prosperity and living a full life is still a part of culture, a shift is required to clarify personal expectations and dreams.”

Whether or not we want to admit it, we all have an underlying vision of what our lives should look like. Many of our career and personal life decisions are based on that vision of the American Dream. Now it is time to look at our goals, hopes and dreams and put some reality into it. It is time to build a new dream and reevaluate what is really meaningful to be working toward.