Why You Should Practice Self-Gratitude This Holiday Season

In this season of gratitude, we are often asked what we are most grateful for — family, friends, food, a stable job, however one response that is not often heard is “myself.” Sure, the response may be the fine line between narcissism and self-love, but it is still important to recognize yourself every once in a while. This doesn’t necessarily mean a trip to the spa, but an acknowledgement of who you are and all that you have done to get to who you want to be. Yes, saying you are grateful for family goes without saying (at least for some), but what about yourself. What have you accomplished that makes you proud? Did you kick an old habit? Is your new job more aligned with your passions? These are all things that we should stop and celebrate without feeling guilty about who is left out of our hypothetical acceptance speech. While bolder than your typical slice of humble pie, please know that you are worthy of gratitude.

What makes this so challenging is that we live in a world where it is seen as rude or self-absorbed to pat ourselves on the back, smile at ourselves in the mirror, and ultimately show ourselves love. But we must change this perspective to avoid the pitfall of always requiring more of ourselves. This does not mean that we are no longer working towards goals or motivating ourselves to greatness, it just means that we don’t always have to be our own worst critics. It means that instead of waiting for someone to compliment us and tell us what a wonderful job we are doing, we have permission to tell ourselves.

Self-gratitide helps us to avoid the rat race and appreciate the small things. By taking a moment to say, “I cooked a really amazing meal today,” or “I am proud of myself for applying to that fellowship program,” we are giving credit where credit is due. Again, this does not mean denying the help that you received along the way (cue the “I want to thank God and my parents” speech), but that you are acknowledging the active role that you play in your life decisions and your personal successes. So when it’s your turn to express what you are grateful for at the Thanksgiving table, don’t forget yourself.