Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can positively transform the way we experience the world. Yet, during stressful times—like the holiday season, a busy workweek, or moments of uncertainty—it can feel especially difficult to tap into thankfulness. Practicing gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring challenges; instead, it’s about finding moments of appreciation amidst the difficulties, which can help ground and center us.

The holiday season is often painted as a time of joy and celebration, but for many, it can also be a period of heightened stress and emotional difficulty. Challenges such as navigating family dynamics, busy schedules, financial pressures, and even loneliness can take a toll on our mental well-being.

Each year in my work with clients, the theme of coping through the holidays resurfaces. What started as a short handout early in my career as a therapist has, over a decade later, grown into a 21-page workbook designed to help clients develop skills and tools to build insight and resilience through the season’s highs and lows.