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Gratefulness
I am not only grateful for “good” experiences but also for the “bad” ones too, because it is these experiences that bless us with wisdom.
Waking up grateful gives me energy to complete the tasks and activities I am to do in a given day.
I’ve been on bighistoryproject.com and have been educating myself on the history of the universe from the Big Bang to the present, and at every point in my learning, I feel a sense of wonder at how the universe gradually became just a little more complex over long periods of time until it eventually led to the diversity of life we see today.
Right now, I am caring for myself by committing to running everyday. I am showing care for others right now by searching for temporary part-time employment so my parents are not burdened by my expenses.
When I feel apprehensive about the future, it helps to remind myself that, even if I would like to know my future, it is okay to not know what my future holds for now because I still have a lot of time to decide what I want to do. The “hurry up and figure it out” voice in my head is just harsh commentary that my own head has constructed, not a rational one.
One time, I began having a small panic attack in a restaurant, and my friend asked me if I was okay. It was a small act, but I never forgot it because it was just nice to know that somebody cared.
The hardest times in my life have given me wisdom, compassion, and resilience.
Right now, I am learning to let go of the need for certainty about my career path. I’m only 25, and it’s okay if I don’t have it all figured out right now.
1. Future Memory by PMH Atwater 2. Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth by John Michael Greer 3. The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near Death Experiences by Titus Rivas, et al. 4. Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences by Jeffrey Long and Paul Perry 5. 10 Life-Changing Lessons from Heaven by Jeff Janssen 6. Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near-Death Experience by Nancy Rynes 7. What if t...
1. Future Memory by PMH Atwater 2. Mystery Teachings from the Living Earth by John Michael Greer 3. The Self Does Not Die: Verified Paranormal Phenomena from Near Death Experiences by Titus Rivas, et al. 4. Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences by Jeffrey Long and Paul Perry 5. 10 Life-Changing Lessons from Heaven by Jeff Janssen 6. Awakenings from the Light: 12 Life Lessons from a Near-Death Experience by Nancy Rynes 7. What if this is Heaven?: How Our Cultural Myths Prevent Us from Experiencing Heaven on Earth 8. The Gospel of John 9. The Theology of the Gospel of John by D. Moody Smith 10. The Gospels and Acts: Fortress Commentary on the Bible by Margaret Aymer, et al.
1. The lazy person works twice as hard. 2. If you want to be happier despite the challenges in life, learn to reframe your thoughts about those challenges. 3. If a person comes to you with a minor challenge in a pastoral care situation, listen to them, ask them what they feel their options are, and don’t try to tell them what to do. If they come to you with a crisis, then advice-giving may be warranted. 4. If you try to be forgiving of others, they will generally recip...
1. The lazy person works twice as hard. 2. If you want to be happier despite the challenges in life, learn to reframe your thoughts about those challenges. 3. If a person comes to you with a minor challenge in a pastoral care situation, listen to them, ask them what they feel their options are, and don’t try to tell them what to do. If they come to you with a crisis, then advice-giving may be warranted. 4. If you try to be forgiving of others, they will generally reciprocate and be lenient when you make a mistake. 5. Even if you believe in a soul, that is not a good reason to devalue the body, especially when ideologies that devalue the body have been used to commit all kinds of atrocities against marginalized people.
A few years ago, in the advanced choir at the university I went to, we had a student whose mother died, a student whose friend died, and the professor whose dad died-all in the same semester. While these losses were sad, the amazing compassion everyone showed spread like wildfire, and we grew closer to each other because of these losses.
For now, I would say my main spiritual practice is finding the things I love most and doing them.
Being grateful right now is helping me to see that everything I am experiencing in each moment is an opportunity to grow in knowledge and wisdom.
Curiosity invites me to read about near-death experiences, watch documentaries and take courses on the science of the universe’s evolution, learn to be better at loving and forgiving others, investigate philosophical questions I wrestle with, and to travel.
If I knew I had a year to live, I would sell all my possessions and give the money to social justice and charity organizations. I would also spend more time with old friends that I haven’t seen in a while.
Learning
I can savor this day by learning and gaining as much wisdom as I can today.
Both my counselor as well as philosopher Jules Evans, in discussing the Cognitive-Behavioral insight that events don’t cause us to feel negative emotions but rather our thoughts about events, have helped me gain some perspective. When I feel angry, anxious, or sad, sometimes it helps to ask myself, “Is my thought about this realistic? If it’s not, how can I reframe the thought? If it is, is it within my control? If it is, what can I do about it? If it isn’t, then perha...
Both my counselor as well as philosopher Jules Evans, in discussing the Cognitive-Behavioral insight that events don’t cause us to feel negative emotions but rather our thoughts about events, have helped me gain some perspective. When I feel angry, anxious, or sad, sometimes it helps to ask myself, “Is my thought about this realistic? If it’s not, how can I reframe the thought? If it is, is it within my control? If it is, what can I do about it? If it isn’t, then perhaps it’s a waste of time to worry about it.”
I can tenderly love the parts of me that are obsessive and feel the need to know everything right now. Instead of resisting the anxiety, I can tenderly hold it like a baby that needs cradling.
I have loved well when I have been willing to work with my dog despite his aggressive tendencies. Now that my nerves have calmed down, I am having less problems with him. I did not give up, and I feel that my hard work is paying off.
I can clarify what matters most by paying attention to ancient religious teachings and current spiritual teachings based on direct experiences of the divine to see what they have to say about what is most important in life.
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