Reset Your Expectations: How to Focus on What Matters

Traditions are a wonderful thing to have, especially at holiday time. Traditions keep people together and keep them looking forward to something outside of their everyday life. But have you ever had someone back out of a tradition? Or were you the one who had something come up which “ruined” the tradition? It probably felt pretty bad, right?

​As wonderful as they are, traditions are associated with a certain level of pressure. The pressure to do the same thing, the pressure to be there, pressure for the lives of everyone involved to stay at a standstill for just a little while longer so
you can see to it that your tradition happens again this year. If we really think about it, traditions are like expectations. And unmet expectations are one sure way to leave you feeling blue.

A Shift In Holiday Traditions This Year

This year we all might experience a shift in traditions, which means we must adjust or let go of our expectations too. It might feel sad or challenging at first to do, but it is really for the best. No matter what happens in your life this year, especially with the holiday season approaching, you may want to expect that your traditions will undoubtedly change instead of expecting traditions. But change is good, as long as you choose to see it that way. Perhaps this year, instead of getting your hopes up over something traditions that, by nature, do not change, you welcome the change and accept the invaluable lessons this shift in traditions can bring you.

The best way to welcome change and joy this year is first by noticing the constants in your life.

“Try writing down 3 things you are grateful for to help you appreciate what you have, no matter how small,” recommend Dr. Flatow of Pacific Mind Health.

​What do you have in your life right now, and can you be grateful for each one? Whether it is that giant ray of sun that always seems to shine down just after lunchtime or the fact that you, your family, and friends are still healthy after everything this year, there is always something to be grateful for.

Cultivating An Attitude of Gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude means that you choose to stay focused on the good and positive things in your life, despite how much around you is changing. It is easy to dwell on what is different this year and get in a mindset where we feel like things are falling apart.

When you practice gratitude, it becomes easier to focus on the good around you. Having a grateful mindset can help you stress less about what others have that  you don’t! When you change your mindset to focus on what you do have, it’s easier to find happiness.

This year, let’s shift our traditions…

Shift our mindset…

Let’s hold on to joy and not to traditions or expectations.

Fuel This Holiday Season With Hope and Gratitude

Not everything has to change this year, but where it does change, let us welcome it. Let’s embrace it as an opportunity to learn the value of mindset. A gratitude mindset is not only a gift that we keep giving to ourselves every single day, but it inspires us to think about others too.

By noticing all we do have, generosity comes naturally as we find ourselves wanting others to experience the same. So, let’s fuel hope with gratitude this year, for ourselves and everyone around us! If you need help getting started on your
journey to mental wellness, let’s move forward in happiness…together. Let’s Connect