If You're Struggling To Be Content During the Holiday Season, Start By Being Grateful

Journaling and making gratitude lists is something I do a lot at home and in coffee shops, and this morning, in my latest segment on Great Day Louisiana, we discussed how contentment plays a significant role in enjoying the holiday season. Over the last several years I’ve learned that the secret to enjoying them without overextending ourselves is simply practicing contentment.

Being content means being happy and satisfied. It's something we all desire, yet I meet people who struggle to be content all the time. I've also struggled with it, which is why I think it's so vital to discuss it at this time of year.

We are constantly bombarded with advertisements telling us that we need the latest, greatest thing. It’s also easy to allow social media to influence us. We see perfectly curated Instagram feeds highlighting our friends’ latest vacations, new cars, fancy dinners, etc., and that makes it easy to focus on what we do not have instead of being grateful for what we do have. We’ll never be content when we’re focused on what we lack, but the reality is that for most of us being content requires practice.

It’s easy when things aren’t going the way we planned, to tell yourself, “I’d be happy if I just got this thing or if I had that success,” but I’ve learned that until we’re grateful for what we have right now, we’ll never have enough. That means you must change your narrative.

What are you telling yourself about your life? What are you believing about yourself? Are you waiting for life to be perfect to begin appreciating it? If so, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. If you want to be content, joyful, and satisfied, start identifying reasons to be grateful now.

Gratitude is powerful because it keeps us from comparing ourselves to others. In addition to helping us become more content, practicing gratitude also improves our mood and emotions, which leads to a healthier, more joyful life.

Dreaming and looking forward to the future is a powerful part of the human condition. It’s important to have goals to work toward, but you can absolutely look forward to the future while being thankful for everything you already have in the present.

I want to take a moment to share something I’m grateful for. Three years ago I walked into the studio at WWLTV and met incredible people who would impact my life significantly.

They have given me a place to share my heart and voice over the last few years, and I’m so grateful for them. I’m also thankful for Caegan and Haley who aren’t in the photo and look forward to everything coming in 2023!

Have you ever struggled with being content? Are you struggling with it now? If so, how do you think you’d feel if you shifted your focus to things you’re grateful for today?