Relax

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, I thought it would be a good time to remind you to take care of yourself and keep the stress to a minimum. Try these stress-reducing techniques:

• Pause at the beginning of each day and give thanks for all the things that are going right in your life.
• Take a break when you feel yourself getting overwhelmed.
• Remember, the holiday season is about being with family.
• Don't let the idea of having the perfect holiday stress you to the point that you cannot enjoy yourself.
• Take a mini vacation in your mind.
• Burn a candle with a stress-reducing fragrance like lavender or vanilla.
• Don’t let the little things overshadow the important things.
• Enjoy yourself and the company of those you love.
  

Reflections

As we draw closer to Thanksgiving, we should be more aware of all those things for which we should offer thanks, and we should be writing them in our gratitude journal. If you do not have a journal, a mental thank you would be appropriate.

Don’t forget to think about all areas of life when giving thanks—spiritual, physical, mental, social. Include family, friends, pets, health and well-being, talents, peace of mind, etc. You get the picture. Take some time within the next couple of weeks, get centered, and open yourself to all of God’s blessings.