Hello Friend,

As a coach, I am constantly astonished by the quiet power we hold as individuals—a power that is pure, loving, and transformative. It is in this quiet strength that the best of humanity resides. We see it in the extraordinary ways we extend compassion, not just to one another but even beyond our species. Recently, I listened to The Good Whale by The New York Times, which tells the story of Keiko, the captive orca who inspired the movie Free Willy. Humans went to remarkable lengths to save this sick and dying whale, rehabilitating and releasing him back into the wild.

This story fills me with hope, but it also reveals something essential about ourselves: this type of compassionate action requires courage. Courage to care deeply, to change our beliefs, and to grow. Consider that before we adored whales as intelligent and social beings, we feared them. Whales were once thought of as sea monsters, hunted nearly to extinction, valued only for their oil and blubber. Yet within just a few decades, we’ve made a monumental shift, now pouring millions of dollars into protecting these majestic creatures.

This change begs a question worth exploring: how do we, as humans, make such profound mental shifts?

The Power of Awareness

Our ability to grow begins with how we process the world. Humans navigate life through a dynamic interplay of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. For most of us, this cycle operates like autopilot: a thought sparks a feeling, which drives our actions or lack thereof. Yet what makes us uniquely powerful is that we can step outside this automatic loop.

Every day, we experience tens of thousands of thoughts. Without awareness, we unconsciously latch onto many of them, shaping our feelings and behaviors, whether for better or worse. But here’s the empowering truth: we are not our thoughts. We are the observers of our thoughts. Through practices like mindfulness, meditation, and mental training, we can learn not to attach to unhelpful thoughts. Instead, we can consciously choose thoughts that serve us, opening the door to more constructive feelings and actions.

This idea is ancient, rooted in Buddhist and Tibetan traditions, but it’s as relevant today as ever. Learning to work with our thoughts is a skill—one that transforms how we live. It allows us to rewrite the narrative, to intentionally bring in thoughts that uplift us, and to step into our lives with greater clarity and purpose.

A Season for Gratitude

This brings us to the season we are in now. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving—a holiday with complex historical roots but also an opportunity to focus on what it can represent: gratitude, connection, and love. Gratitude is one of the most powerful states of being, and like mindfulness, it is a practice that can be cultivated.

For many, Thanksgiving may bring up feelings of apprehension—uncomfortable family dynamics, past hurts, or stress about how the day will unfold. These thoughts, however valid they feel, are still just that: thoughts. They are not absolute truths, and they do not define us. Imagine if, instead of attaching to dread, you paused and allowed gratitude to take the lead.

What would it look like to shift focus? To appreciate the abundance of food on the table, the warmth of the home, or the joy of reconnecting with someone you love? Even in challenging moments, gratitude has the power to transform. It anchors us to the present, filling us with peace and reminding us of the good that exists in our lives. I invite you to try this for yourself weekend.

Closing Thoughts

As we step into the holiday season, let us remember the quiet power we hold. The power to change our perspectives, to let go of thoughts that do not serve us, and to embrace gratitude for what is. When we practice gratitude, we not only change how we experience the world—we amplify the best of humanity within ourselves. “The only way to change the world is to change yourself” ~Mahatma Gandhi

May this Thanksgiving be a time to pause, reflect, and connect with the quiet power of gratitude that resides in us all.

Want to practice gratitude? Try out this Loving Kindness Mediation