You want this season to feel special for your blended family. But instead of joy, you’re feeling grumpy, anxious, or even a little hopeless. Schedule changes, empty chairs at the table, tension with an ex, and slow bonding in step-relationships can make gratitude feel out of reach. Deep down you might be wondering, “How am I supposed to be thankful when life really hurts?”

In this episode, we'll sit with you in that question. And we'll introduce three simple “gratitude lenses” that will help you focus on what’s good without denying what’s hard. 

Through honest stories from our personal journey, including Kim’s long season of walking with Annika through addiction and into recovery, you’ll see how gratitude can keep you anchored so that you can show up well as you face tough realities.   

You’ll also learn how to hold grief and gratitude at the same time while guarding against three common negativity traps that quietly drain hope and resilience. By the end, you’ll have one small, clear next step to begin practicing gratitude in real life, right where you are, in this season and beyond.

You'll Discover:

• Three gratitude lenses tailored for real life, you can start using today
• Simple gratitude habits that can make a positive difference 
• How to hold grief and gratitude simultaneously - without having to pretend
• The 3 “P” traps that crush resilience—and how you can resist them

Resources from this Episode:

• Episode 42. Our Challenging Story of Parental Alienation - And 6 Tips for You
• Episode 84. Coping with Sadness, Anxiety, and Longing when the Kids are Gone
• Episode 154. What practical and Emotional Shifts Can You Expect as You Blend a Family? 
• Episode 14. 3 Helpful Steps to Overcome Your 'Perfectionist' Ideals and Disappointments 
• Episode 202. How to Break Free From Painful Cycles and Enjoy Deeper Levels of Intimacy [with Ron and Nan Deal] 
• Episode 189.  Bringing Hope to the Realities of Grief:  A Path to Understanding and Healing [with Krista St-Germain]
• Episode 187.  Basics for Blending:  How to Tolerate and Manage Discomfort and Distress (Part 1 of 2)
• Episode 51. Overcoming Discouragement (Part 1 of  3)
• Episode 99. Moving Beyond Painful Guilt and Regret
• Episode 160. A 4-Part Framework for Achievable Expectations and How to Live Them Out
• Episode 220. From Marginalized to Mainstream:  How to Reclaim Confidence 
• Episode 215. Does your Relationship Feel Hopeless?  Why Giving Up Might Not be the Answer?

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help.  You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home.  Schedule your free call here:  https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession