When Gratitude Feels Hard: A Guide to Finding Steady Ground This Thanksgiving

Nov 21

Thanksgiving can bring warmth, connection, and familiar traditions, but for many people, it also stirs up complicated emotions. Maybe you’re navigating strained family relationships, grief, blended-family stress, burnout, or simply the pressure to “feel grateful” when your nervous system is tired and overwhelmed.

If gratitude feels out of reach this year, you are not doing anything wrong. You’re human. And your body’s response makes sense.

Here are a few gentle, realistic therapy-informed practices to help you move through the holiday with more steadiness and self-compassion.