129. Why Is Gratitude So Hard? 3 Ways to Navigate Anxiety Symptoms, Guilt & Grief

Why do you feel guilty for not being happy when you have so much to be thankful for? Holiday stress, anxiety symptoms, depression, loneliness, and grief can make gratitude feel like just another expectation. And when you're already emotionally exhausted, feeling like you should be happier only adds to the guilt. In this episode of Practical Solutions for PTSD: Holiday Overwhelm Reset, Lori Owens explores why gratitude and grief can coexist, how to avoid toxic positivity, and why you don't have to hide your pain to praise God. Through Positive Psychology and Scripture, discover how the Psalms model honest prayers of distress followed by praise, gratitude, and hope. You'll learn how to acknowledge what's hard, recognize God's goodness, and practice thankfulness without dismissing your emotions or pretending everything is okay. Plus, try the Both Can Be True Exercise: a simple way to process difficult emotions, recognize what still matters, and bring both into your prayers. You can be hurting and still be grateful. You can struggle and still have faith. Both can be true. Because gratitude isn't about pretending life is perfect. It's about recognizing what is still meaningful while navigating the hard things. LINKS:  Calm Emotional Overwhelm – HOLIDAYS: https://ceoholidays.grwebsite.com/ Boundary Setting Worksheet: https://practicalsolutionsforptsd.com... Sign up for an Anxiety and Depression Breakthrough Coaching Session https://practicalsolutionsforptsd.com... Website: https://practicalsolutionsforptsd.com Become an Insider by signing up for the weekly newsletter: insider.grwebsite.com (https://insider.grwebsite.com/) Join our Facebook community: (1) Overcome Depression & Anxiety - Use Positive Psychology to Combat PTSD | Facebook (  / 1128305889363441  ) Get in touch! info@practicalsolutionsforptsd.com (mailto:info@practicalsolutionsforptsd.com) KEYWORDS:  holiday stress, anxiety symptoms, depression, seasonal depression, guilt, isolation, PTSD, loneliness, grief, emotional exhaustion, guilt, toxic positivity, Positive Psychology, gratitude, faith and mental health, Christian encouragement, coping strategies, emotional overwhelm, resilience.