Expectations & Gratitude

Reader,

As we approach year-end, I want to support you in finishing strong and launching into 2026 with a mindset that turns impossible possibilities into your new normal.

But this week, let’s pause.

It’s Thanksgiving—and gratitude is the grounding force that carries you powerfully into what’s next.

A time to give thanks and give back.

There’s a chaotic magic to Thanksgiving in my house—the kids pounding in and out of the kitchen, a fresh puzzle on the kitchen island, the chatter of 1,000 overlapping conversations, cocktails in hand, and the ritual of cooking…and overeating.

And while super cliché, my favorite moment is always the same:
Each person at the table shares what they're grateful for.

HOWEVER, well before that moment arrives, I have a talk with myself to set my expectations.
It’s the way I “set the table” for the experience I want to create.

If I’m not careful, I slip into a holiday trap of my own making. I expect too much:

From myself
From the people around me
From the almost-real fantasy in my head—the version of the day that feels so possible, I expect it to happen

And when reality doesn’t match the mental picture, it can leave a bitter taste that not even my mom’s legendary pepperoni-and-sausage stuffing can fix.

The space between what we expect and what actually happens is where disappointment lives.

This video captures the expectation trap perfectly.

This year, before I set the table, I’m setting my expectations.

For myself:

What do I truly need?
What can I honestly handle?
What do I want to feel?

While you can’t control anyone else’s behavior, you can absolutely control the energy you bring and the meaning you make about the day and the people.

Sometimes the most powerful move you can make is simply choosing not to react.
Don’t take the bait.
Don’t hand over your peace.

Try this to set the tone for the holiday—and for the energy you want to carry into the final stretch of the year.

Step 1: Your WANT List

Write down everything you WANT for Thanksgiving (or to finishing the year STRONG).
Big, small, sentimental, silly.
Aim for at least 20 on the list.

A few of mine:

A great puzzle (my meditation)
Deep conversations beyond small talk
Genuine belly laughter
No conflict
Real connection
All of my extended family
Hours of messy, chaotic cooking
A perfectly moist turkey + horseradish cream cheese mashed potatoes
Everyone helping in the kitchen
Friday reward: homemade turkey soup
Long walks
Lazy PJ mornings
Energizing Paddle Tennis afternoons

Step 2: The Gratitude Flip

Now separate your list into three columns:

What do you already have?
What will happen because you’ll naturally create the conditions?
What is simply out of reach this year?

Look closely and you’ll see: you already have so much, and even more is within reach.

We often wish for things because we think they’re missing…
but when we slow down, we see we’re already living inside so many of our hopes, dreams and desires.

That is abundance.
Not more wanting just deeper gratitude for what we have already.
Not chasing for more just deeper awareness of what's been created.

Achieving “impossible possibilities” (or simply extraordinary goals) isn’t about pulling something out of thin air.

It’s about turning up the volume on the good that already exist. Then letting gratitude be the fuel that carries you toward what’s next.

Remember: Unquestioned expectations lead to disappointment.

But wanting what you already have—and wanting it more deeply—is the doorway to joy, abundance, and the life you’re creating next.

Let awareness be the anchor.
Let gratitude be the spark.
Let imagination lead you into a magical close to the year.

Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with abundance, grounding, peace, and joy.

With so much gratitude,
Christina

P.S. Looking to give back to give thanks. Go learn about the Givers Challenge HERE.

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