What are you grateful for?

Many of us begin this holiday season with Thanksgiving. A time to celebrate, express gratitude, share delicious meals, enjoy time with those we love, take some time off and maybe eat a little more than we usually do.

Sometimes, the arrival of this season can bring about some challenging feelings – maybe we’re going through life changes or experiencing loss, suffering a little social anxiety or concerned about our waistlines, or finances, or even just our time, or perhaps it’s even a feeling we can’t really put words to. When we’re facing a season of social gatherings and celebrations from a place like this, it can be challenging.

No matter how this season is beginning for you, the practices of self-love and gratitude can make all the difference in how we approach and move through this season of celebration.

Reach deep.

What’s really going on for you in this present moment? How are your relationships? Are you feeling good about your communication skills, and are you practicing self-care? For those in relationships, Thanksgiving can be a wonderful time to sit down and acknowledge all the things you’re grateful for in each other and can open wonderful doors to deeper communication and intimacy. And for all of us, it’s a good time to sit down and take stock as we venture into this time of year: what’s beautiful about you? Are you loving yourself just as you are? Are you finding ways to do things that bring you joy and pleasure?

Treat yourself.

Sometimes the challenges we face can seem so monumental it can be hard to shift our perspectives or find something to be grateful for. Things happen. Lives change. Bodies change. Relationships change. I often work with people who are learning to find their own unique pathways to pleasure, couples adjusting to shifts in their relationships, and people who want to increase their levels of confidence (and not just in the bedroom!). It starts with knowing, loving and accepting ourselves and our bodies just as we are right now.

So, what are you grateful for?

Learning to love and appreciate ourselves just as we are is a gratitude practice that can benefit us throughout our lifetime.  When we learn to love ourselves, we can love others more deeply.  We can accept and face the challenges that arise. We can set better boundaries. We can ask for what we want and need. Our friendships and our relationships benefit from our self-love, too.

This Thanksgiving season, I would like to express my thanks and gratitude for you, and for the trust you have given me in helping guide and support your empowered sexuality.  I am honored to be working with you.