Thankfulness in Adversity

Hello ladies,

I pray that you are doing well and are excited about preparing for the Thanksgiving holiday to spend with family and friends. Finding thankfulness in adversity can be challenging, but it can also help you develop resilience and a more positive outlook on your life. Ladies, I’m not saying you have to allow adversity to overtake you but try to remain optimistic whenever you're faced with a difficult situation. You need to be realistic and see things from the right perspective. Consequently, if you view everything with a negative mindset, you'll only see the bad things. Now that the holiday season is upon us, I understand how anticipating spending time with family can cause some anxiety. So, here are a few ways to find thankfulness in adversity when spending the holidays with your loved ones.

Plan Your Visit: Getting together with family during the holidays creating lasting memories and feeling a sense of connection is not only fun but good for your overall health and wellness. The holidays are the perfect time to reconnect with your loved ones. However, there may be some members of the family that may disrupt the atmosphere. Do not let this ruin the enjoyment of this time. Plan your visit and how you will respond to an unpleasant moment. Remember you are the master of your emotions. When you let people make you mad and you act out of character, you give them power over you. Do not react to adversity but respond to it. Take a deep breath, “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. (James 1:19). Take a few minutes to think about what you will say and if the situation doesn’t need a response, in a calm manner walk away and turn your focus towards enjoying your time with the rest of your family and let it go.

Maintain perspective: In challenging situations, it can be helpful to step back and consider the bigger picture. Recognize that adversity is a part of life and can appear in any family gathering. Nevertheless, it can also be an opportunity for growth, resilience, and a deeper appreciation of the good times. This perspective can help you find thankfulness even in the face of adversity. It can be an opportunity for you to share with the family how valuable each family member is and how special this time is together.

Seek support and connection: Reach out to friends and family who can provide emotional support. Expressing your feelings and receiving comfort from loved ones can help you feel thankful for the support system you have in your life. Remember to connect with others who want the same thing you want. Love, peace, and unity in the family should be the main focus when supporting each other. Pray for the family members who are facing challenges and are having a hard time during the holidays. Seasonal Depression increases greatly during the winter months, be intentional about showing love, support, and compassion during this time.

Ladies, remember that finding thankfulness in adversity is a process, and it may take time and effort. It's about shifting your mindset, focusing on the positive aspects of life, and sharing an extra dose of love with those who are less fortunate than us.

Embrace personal growth: As I shared earlier adversity often presents an opportunity for personal growth and resilience. This is a good time for you to reflect on how challenging experiences have made you stronger, more empathetic, or wiser. I really enjoy unplugging from my everyday life and taking time out to sit quietly with a cup of coffee while looking out the window at nature and saying “thank you” to God for the value in the lessons I am learning during these times of adversity. I appreciate being able to look back at how far I have come and how I have grown to become the person I am today. My earnest prayer for you beautiful Queens, is that you be able to create a moment of blessed quietness to say “thank you” and share that spirit of thankfulness with your loved ones during this holiday season.

Love and Blessings,

Dr. Doris