Embody Gratitude. Reclaim Joy.
Tomorrow many will gather around tables, invited to share a moment of gratitude for what life has brought since last Thanksgiving.
For some it comes easy, this way of looking at life.
But for many of us, the smiles on our faces mask myriad distressing thoughts, feelings, and sensations.
We struggle to be present and enjoy this time, every cell of our being on high alert for the cornucopia of triggers that grace our Thanksgiving table.
We may feel compelled to compare ourselves to others. We judge our worthiness against whatever life updates others sitting with us share. We assess our hunger not by what our bodies say, but instead what others are eating. We dread the huge helping of food and body-related comments that leave the bitter taste of shame in our mouths.
Instead of gratitude and joy, we leave full of self-loathing and shame.
Comparison, they say, is the thief of joy.
Those of us who struggle with food and body know this all too well.
How many holidays – how many days – has it stolen from us?
A lifetime of lost opportunities to know joy in our relentless search to be something other than who we are.
Is it ever enough?
Are WE ever enough?
If we begin to view ourselves with eyes of gratitude, what will we find?
At a time when so many of us struggle to be present, let alone fully embodied, I invite you to set aside time for the exercise below.
Created to help heal our relationships with our bodies, my hope is that this embodiment of gratitude will help you to reclaim joy each and every day.
1. Find a comfortable, quiet, and safe place to sit. Take a moment to breathe, noticing the space between breaths, letting your breath help you to come into the present moment with a sense of ease.
2. Bring your attention to your body with a spirit of gratitude for how it has served you this day. Take time to scan your body – from your head to your toes, noticing any places of discomfort. Imagine breathing into those places the healing energy of gratitude.
3. As you continue to embrace embodiment, consider the following questions and journal your responses:
When did I feel most connected with my body today?
When did I feel least connected?
How did I experience joy in my body today?
Where do I need help in developing more compassion towards myself and my body?
4. Now return your attention to your body and your breath. Breathing in, offer thanks to your body for connection and joy. Breathing out, imagine letting go of anything – thoughts, emotions, physical discomfort – that have kept you disconnected from your body.
5. End this time by breathing in deeply to a full body stretch, feeling the powerful presence of your body with gratitude and joy.
Hoping your thanksgiving is all that you are hoping for this year.
And, that presence and gratitude are available to you as you need.
🧡,
Reclaim Therapy provides specialized trauma therapy in Horsham, PA.
We’re a group of eating disorder therapist near me passionate about helping people reclaim their lives from the impact of diet culture, disordered eating and body shame. We also provide EMDR therapy, EMDR for binge eating and EMDR for eating disorders in Pennsylvania.
If you’re struggling with your relationship with food and your body, we want you to know that you deserve healing and freedom to live a full, beautiful life, free from eating disorder impulses.
We’ll be here when you’re ready to get started.