As Thanksgiving is just around the corner, gratitude is an important topic. It is important to offer a more nuanced perspective, because gratitude can be complicated and can look very different for different people. Gratitude goes beyond the simple phrase, “Just be grateful.” In today’s Part 1 of two episodes, we want to give people a brave place to let their true feelings be what they are, regardless of others’ expectations. How do we practice gratitude in a way that isn’t toxic positivity but still validates our feelings and raises our quality of life? My friend, Christine Koh, is here to contribute to the discussion. She is a speaker, creative consultant, author of Minimalist Parenting, and the podcast co-host of Edit Your Life. Join us!
Show Highlights:
● How we define gratitude–it doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone!
● How gratitude can be an embracing the joy that is random in life–just as suffering is
● How we define toxic positivity–and how it relates to motherhood
● Why we, as a society, aren’t very good at sitting with uncomfortable emotions and pain
● How Christine’s background and Asian heritage inform her view of toxic positivity
● How spiritual bypassing relates to toxic positivity in not allowing feelings to be processed and explored
● Why Christine is a fan of cognitive reframing–and how she uses this practical exercise to “flip the script”
● Why we have to give voice to our suffering to process the feelings and move toward growth
● How gratitude is an emotional muscle that we have to flex in our own ways
● Christine’s advice to parents about teaching gratitude while not pushing toxic positivity on our kids
● Why it is important for parents to model a wide range of emotions in front of our kids
Resources and Links:
Connect with Christine Koh: Website, Podcast, and Minimalist Parenting book
Connect with KC: Website, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook
Get KC’s book, How to Keep House While Drowning
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