There are few things in this world that are such a simple concept, yet can turn your entire life around at the same time.  Gratitude is one of them.  It can change chaos into contentment, stress into joy, and can help us to live our very best lives just by being thankful for what we have instead of the continual focus on what we’re desiring.

If you are trying to get through the holiday season while remaining on the Paleo diet (or any other helpful lifestyle change), it won’t help to just think about food and what you might be missing out on.  That keeps our focus on what we don’t have, instead of being thankful for all of the amazing things we already have. 

It’s no secret that our culture is hyper-focused on consumerism, and the marketing geniuses have even taken our holiday season and turned it into a craze-filled, money spending, chaotic, want-want-want season instead of what it’s supposed to represent.

Expressing gratitude this holiday season means you are more appreciative and thankful for the good, positive things in your life, as opposed to only dwelling on the negative.

Benefits of Gratitude

First of all, expressing gratitude on its own is amazing for your health and wellness. It allows you to get into a more positive headspace, makes you more empathetic to others, and gives you an inside look into all the amazing things you have in your life.

It can be easy to get caught up in being negative and focusing on things that you feel aren’t going right, but shifting your focus is easy to do when you express more gratitude this season.

Appreciate What You CAN Eat, Not What You Can’t

When you are on the Paleo diet, being grateful throughout the holiday season makes it a lot easier to cope with having a different way of eating than what you might be used to. Instead of constantly thinking about what you are not able to eat during the holidays, focus on what you CAN.

Every time you eat something healthy and delicious this holiday season, practice mindfulness to appreciate and be thankful for that nutrition that is going into your body.  Our bodies depend on us to nourish them with the best quality foods, and those foods are what help us heal.

And remember, there are plenty of Paleo goodies that you can make that are just as good (or even better!) as the normal holiday foods you’re used to.  Give them a try!

Focus on More Positive Things

As you start to express gratitude every day, one thing you will notice is that you are able to focus more on positive things in your life, and less on negative. Again, this is getting you into a healthier headspace that will make it easier to enjoy your way of eating.

You aren’t thinking about how you can’t eat that sugar-filled dessert on Christmas, but are appreciative of the delicious ham and veggies you can enjoy, that are not only filling up your belly, but improving your health at the same time. (And learn new ways to cook, like making the Paleo Christmas cookies instead!)

Have Gratitude for Your Health and Body

While you are expressing gratitude this holiday season, don’t forget to be appreciative of your health and your body. They are both getting you through the day and are being kind to you, so it is important to be kind to them as well.

This is not about depriving yourself of all of the things you love during this season, but it’s about being intentional about being content with your life, making healthier choices, and really finding a lifestyle that makes your body & soul happy!

How do you like to express gratitude during the holidays?