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How Gratitude and Chakra Practices Can Reframe Your Holidays
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How Gratitude and Chakra Practices Can Reframe Your Holidays: A Parallel Journey for Parents and Kids
The holidays are meant to be magical, but they can also stir up feelings of stress, disappointment, and even loneliness. For parents, it’s the pressure of creating a perfect holiday. For kids, it’s the buildup of excitement that sometimes leads to emotional meltdowns when things don’t go as expected.
If you’ve ever felt let down by the holidays—like the magic fell short, or the pressures piled too high—you’re not alone. The truth is, these emotions don’t just belong to parents; they mirror the challenges kids face during this season too.
Here’s the beauty of this parallel journey: When we address our own struggles and regulate our energy, we teach our kids to do the same. Gratitude and chakra awareness give us the tools to reframe the season—for ourselves and for our children—shifting from overwhelm to connection, from disconnection to groundedness.

But what if you could reframe Christmas?
What if, instead of chasing perfection, you could use gratitude and chakra practices to find meaning, connection, and balance—even when things feel hard?
It might not seem intuitive to connect chakras with Christmas, but the truth is, our chakras (those energy centers in the body) are deeply tied to many of the challenges we face this time of year. By understanding their role—and practicing gratitude intentionally—we can shift from overwhelm to presence, from disconnection to groundedness.

Why the Holidays Feel So Heavy
The holidays often bring out old patterns and unresolved feelings, creating a perfect storm of stress for families. The pressure to meet expectations can be just as overwhelming for kids as it is for parents, though it manifests differently.
Here’s how these challenges play out in the chakras for both parents and children:
1.Root Chakra (Safety & Stability):
- Parents: Financial stress, disrupted routines, and the pressure to create stability during chaos can leave parents feeling anxious and ungrounded.
- Kids: Children thrive on routine, and holiday changes—like late nights, travel, or unpredictable schedules—can leave them feeling insecure and more prone to meltdowns.
2.Sacral Chakra (Creativity & Joy):
- Parents: Overcommitment and exhaustion can block your ability to experience joy or connect with the playful side of the season.
- Kids: When parents are too stressed to engage in fun or creativity, kids may feel disconnected and restless, losing their sense of wonder.
3.Heart Chakra (Connection & Love):
- Parents: Strained family dynamics or unmet emotional needs can close off the heart chakra, leaving you feeling lonely or disconnected.
- Kids: Children mirror emotional energy—if parents are closed off, kids may become withdrawn or seek attention through acting out.
4.Crown Chakra (Spiritual Connection):
- Parents: Focusing too much on materialism or perfection can pull you away from the deeper meaning of the season.
- Kids: When the holidays revolve around gifts and “getting,” kids may lose sight of gratitude and connection, leaving them unfulfilled.
The good news? Gratitude practices, paired with chakra awareness, can gently guide you back to balance. They don’t magically erase the stress or sadness, but they help you reframe your experience and reconnect to the present moment—where the real magic happens.

How Gratitude Reframes Christmas
We often hear that gratitude is the “key to happiness,” but what does that really mean? Gratitude isn’t about forcing yourself to feel happy or ignoring the hard parts of life. Instead, it’s about consciously noticing what is good and meaningful, even amidst challenges.
Gratitude isn’t just a tool for parents; it’s a skill we can model and teach to our children. When you approach the holidays with an open heart and balanced energy, your kids feel it too. Here’s how gratitude and chakra practices can transform the experience for both of you:
When we practice gratitude, we activate our energy centers in powerful ways:
- Root Chakra: Gratitude for what we have (like a warm home or loving people) creates a sense of safety and grounding.
- Heart Chakra: Expressing gratitude opens this energy center, fostering deeper love and connection with others.
- Crown Chakra: Reflecting on the beauty of the present moment helps us reconnect to something greater—whether that’s faith, purpose, or simply awe for the world around us.
Gratitude allows us to stop chasing the ideal holiday and instead focus on what’s already here, waiting to be appreciated.

Chakra-Aligned Practices to Shift Holiday Energy
Here are three simple gratitude practices that combine chakra awareness with intentional reflection to help you reframe Christmas.
1. Root Chakra Practice: Gratitude Grounding Exercise Parents and Kids
Why It Helps: Financial stress, chaotic schedules, or uncertainty can leave the whole family feeling untethered. This practice helps everyone feel grounded and safe.
How to Do It:
Sit as a family with feet firmly on the floor.
Take three deep breaths, focusing on the sensation of the ground beneath you.
Go around and share one thing that makes you feel safe or supported. (For kids, this could be as simple as “my teddy bear” or “Mom’s hugs.”)
Visualize these things as roots growing from your feet, anchoring you to the earth.
2. Heart Chakra Practice: The Family Gratitude Chain
Why It Helps: The heart chakra thrives on love and connection. This practice allows you to share gratitude openly while strengthening emotional bonds.
How to Do It:
- Gather as a family and start a “gratitude chain.”
- One person says, “I’m grateful for [something about another person in the group],” then passes it on. Example: “I’m grateful for how you always make me laugh.”
- Continue until everyone has shared something about each family member.
The Parallel Impact:
Parents open their hearts by focusing on connection instead of stress, while kids feel seen and valued, building emotional safety.
3. Crown Chakra Practice: A Moment of Holiday Wonder
Why It Helps:
The crown chakra connects us to awe and spirituality. In the rush of the holidays, this practice helps families slow down and appreciate the beauty of the present moment.
How to Do It:
- Bundle up and step outside together, whether it’s to look at the stars, take a walk in the snow, or admire holiday lights.
- Ask each family member:
- “What’s one thing you’re grateful for in this moment?”
- “What do you think is the true magic of the holidays?”
- Reflect on the wonder of the season and what it means to your family.
How Parents Lead the Way
Here’s the truth: Kids don’t learn gratitude or energy awareness on their own. They watch us. When parents model grounding, connection, and reflection, children naturally follow. The beauty of the parallel journey is that as we heal and regulate our own energy, we create space for our children to do the same.
This holiday season, let gratitude and chakra practices guide you back to balance. Not just for yourself—but for your family as a whole.
Reframe the Holidays with Myla and the Presence of Christmas
Here’s the truth: Kids don’t learn gratitude or energy awareness on their own. They watch us. When parents model grounding, connection, and reflection, children naturally follow. The beauty of the parallel journey is that as we heal and regulate our own energy, we create space for our children to do the same.
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Let’s Spread the Joy
If this article resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a little holiday balance. Together, we can transform the holidays into a season of connection, meaning, and growth—for both parents and kids.

Angela Thibault
Angela Thibault is a mother of two, a passionate children’s author, and the founder of Satori Kid Club and The Parallel Journey™.