{"id":207558,"date":"2021-03-25T18:07:12","date_gmt":"2021-03-25T18:07:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/?p=207558"},"modified":"2021-03-25T18:07:48","modified_gmt":"2021-03-25T18:07:48","slug":"207558","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthening-the-holidays\/207558\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengths Fueled Thanksgiving"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fusion-fullwidth fullwidth-box fusion-builder-row-1 nonhundred-percent-fullwidth non-hundred-percent-height-scrolling\" style=\"background-color: rgba(255,255,255,0);background-position: center center;background-repeat: no-repeat;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;margin-bottom: 0px;margin-top: 0px;border-width: 0px 0px 0px 0px;border-color:#eae9e9;border-style:solid;\" ><div class=\"fusion-builder-row fusion-row\"><div class=\"fusion-layout-column fusion_builder_column fusion-builder-column-0 fusion_builder_column_1_1 1_1 fusion-one-full fusion-column-first fusion-column-last\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-column-wrapper fusion-flex-column-wrapper-legacy\" style=\"background-position:left top;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-size:cover;-moz-background-size:cover;-o-background-size:cover;background-size:cover;padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px;\"><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-1\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Greetings! As we approach the holiday season, my fervent wish for you is safety, good health, and the continued pursuit of your best possible life. I feel grateful for your presence in my life. If you\u2019re celebrating Thanksgiving this week, Happy Thanksgiving!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Last Thanksgiving, I published a strengths-filled recipe for enjoying any holiday. This year, I\u2019m updating that recipe since the holiday season is mixed with a global pandemic, political divisions, job losses, food insecurity, illness, and other significant stressors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The recipe below is designed to be uplifting and provide respite, no matter the stressors you\u2019re currently facing. Use this recipe for the holidays and every day. Feel free to substitute ingredients when you think they will make a positive difference.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><span class=\" fusion-imageframe imageframe-none imageframe-1 hover-type-none\" style=\"margin-right:25px;float:left;margin-top:25px;margin-bottom:25px;\"><img width=\"300\" height=\"67\" title=\"Practice Name Here Vol. # (15)\" src=\"http:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15-300x67.png\" class=\"img-responsive wp-image-207560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15-200x45.png 200w, https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15-400x90.png 400w, https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15-600x135.png 600w, https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15-800x180.png 800w, https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Practice-Name-Here-Vol.-15.png 889w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 965px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><div class=\"fusion-text fusion-text-2\" style=\"transform:translate3d(0,0,0);\"><h4>The Inspiration<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. It\u2019s about people coming together to express gratitude and share life\u2019s abundance and blessings. The commercial trappings of other holidays don\u2019t exist; only community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This year, my family won\u2019t be having its traditional gathering. We will celebrate safely at a distance over Zoom, but of course it won\u2019t be the same. Nonetheless, many rituals can continue. One of my new rituals is sharing my recipe for a delicious, strengths-fueled Thanksgiving holiday.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bon appetit!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ingredients<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your top 3 signature strengths<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2 parts strengths-spotting<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A large dollop of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/gratitude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gratitude<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 overused strength, tempered<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1 underused strength, elevated<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b><i>Step 1<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>Identify 3 of your <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/strengthbasedliving.com\/?s=signature+strengths\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signature strengths<\/span><\/a><b> and choose one new way to express them on Thanksgiving day.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We know from research that using a signature strength in a new way every day for a week can increase happiness and reduce depression for months (Seligman, et al, 2005). To identify your signature strengths, take the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/pro\/strengthbasedliving\/account\/register\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">character strengths survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I\u2019m choosing my 3 go-to signature strengths: <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/creativity\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creativity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/humor\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">humor<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/perspective\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">perspective<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Creativity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> keeps me inspired. I love to cook and unleash my creativity in the kitchen. Since I\u2019m not cooking for a crowd this year, I have room to experiment with different flavors and combinations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Humor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> keeps my mood lifted and provides a much-needed break from the heaviness of the day. Pets are often a source of fun and playfulness, like in this short <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sunnyskyz.com\/happy-videos\/6867\/Just-3-Minutes-Of-Hilarious-Interactions-Between-Cats-And-Dogs\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">video of dogs and cats playing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Even a 3-minute humor break can shift me into a more positive mindset.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Perspective<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> keeps me grounded in pressure-filled situations. The differences in this year\u2019s holiday give me pause to see the big picture. On one hand, I will miss the energetic chaos of cooking, cleaning, and hosting. However, keeping my family, friends, and community safe and healthy in the long-term is so much more important to me.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which of your top strengths will you choose for your holiday recipe? If you\u2019d like to feel more confident discussing your strengths, consider registering for a personal coaching session with me to <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/strengthbasedliving.com\/sbl-news\/introducing-strengthen-your-strengths\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Power Up<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and strengthen your strengths.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>Step 2<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>Add 2 parts strengths-spotting yourself and the people around you.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengths-spotting is a gift you can give on every occasion. It is the gift of seeing and valuing people for their best qualities. When your 10-year-old is behaving well, appreciate her <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/self-regulation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">self-regulation. <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0When you notice someone being helpful, point out his <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/kindness\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">kindness. <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0Don\u2019t forget to notice your own strengths \u2013 how your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/bravery\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bravery <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">led you to this moment in time, or how your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/honesty\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">honesty <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is helping you be authentic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For extra sweetness, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/strengthbasedliving.com\/?s=strengths+spotting\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">spot the strengths in someone<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with whom you have a difficult relationship or who is rubbing you the wrong way. Notice the effect this has on not only the person, but you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>Step 3<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>Fold in a dollop of gratitude.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/gratitude\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gratitude <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">is inherent in the Thanksgiving holiday, but we don\u2019t always remember to express it. No matter how bad things get, there is always something to feel grateful for \u2013 the sunny sky, a dear friend, good health. Take a moment to notice and appreciate the blessings in your life. If you\u2019re with others, either in person or virtually, ask each person to name what or who they feel grateful for, and notice the elevating effect.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>Step 4<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>Add at least 1 overused strength, tempered, and 1 underused strength, elevated.<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which of your strengths might you tend to overuse or underuse during holidays? Some of us become overly critical when under stress, overusing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.viacharacter.org\/character-strengths\/judgment-critical-thinking\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">judgment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Temper that strength by taking a few deep breaths to reset and open your mind.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t forget that even a crabby relative deserves kindness. Elevate yours by speaking to him with kind words or striking up a conversation to get to know him better.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><i>Step 5<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n<p><b>Blend all ingredients gently together, infusing strengths into Thanksgiving and every day.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel free to add more of your unique blend of character strengths for added sweetness.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>The Practice<\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gather your ingredients and follow the recipe.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember that this is your recipe. It is within your reach to have a delicious, strengths-fueled holiday. Choose your ingredients to shape who you are at this moment and who you want to become in each new moment<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel free to share the recipe with your loved ones to multiply the goodness!<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4>The Reflection<\/h4>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A strengths-fueled holiday is different from other days because ___________.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The possibilities are endless. Perhaps you feel a bit more serene or uplifted. Perhaps your perspective has shifted in a helpful way. Perhaps you connected more deeply with a loved one.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May all your days be fueled by your strengths.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With all good wishes,<br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jane<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"fusion-clearfix\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":207561,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207558"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207558"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207558\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":207563,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/207558\/revisions\/207563"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207558"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=207558"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.strengthbasedliving.com\/strengthbasedliving.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=207558"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}