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Gratefulness
Life is everything. From our first breath to our last it contains everything that the human condition will offer. It is our sufferings and celebrations. But, even though life is all of these things…our experiences, thoughts and moods, it must be even more. Life itself demands and requires that it be connected to the Devine creation. Life is what must be lived. Lived thoughts, lived emotions, lived embodiement. Life is what makes us whole and connected to creation and the Creator.
I am grateful for getting up each day, recognizing that there will be at least one thing, no matter how small, I can do for another that is kind or compassionate. I am grateful to be necessary to what may seem inconsequential, but may contain immense power when seen through another’s heart.
I am one who has practiced body scan meditation with some regularity for a couple of years. This helps in noticing what the body may be telling me and aids in awareness. Even though this practice helps, I still eat too much in the evening and I do not allow my body proper rest from exercise. In addition, I fail to realize that the body is running just about everything without my needing to really think about it.
For me living gratefully inspires me to affect social change by noticing the benefits of gratitude in my own life. Because making the attempt to live gratefully has been beneficial to me I naturally want others experience gratitude in their own lives. It may be found in the doing of a community project, but can also just be an embodiment of gratitude. If one is living a grateful life (internally or externally) and one is part of the human collective then one has by default had an effect towar...
For me living gratefully inspires me to affect social change by noticing the benefits of gratitude in my own life. Because making the attempt to live gratefully has been beneficial to me I naturally want others experience gratitude in their own lives. It may be found in the doing of a community project, but can also just be an embodiment of gratitude. If one is living a grateful life (internally or externally) and one is part of the human collective then one has by default had an effect toward positive social change. You take your gratitude with you wherever you go.
I tend to hold on to the unskillful thought that things (life) should be different versus accepting and allowing space for things to be as they are in each moment. Accepting does not mean I give up my ability to influence, work toward goals, and it does not mean becoming submissive when faced with challenges. If I could let go of the struggle against life as it really is, full of joys and sorrows, I might feel more peace, compassion, and equanimity.
Last night the full moon light filtering through the trees outside my window and its effect of softly resting near me as I sat down to meditate. I was reminded that if I slow down and take time to notice the wonders that are all around me (people, pets, nature, my thoughts, my emotions) I can be surprised by these things that I often think of as mundane or just not pay attention to.
Some of the best teachers in my life have been those who reminded me to authentically be myself. Ultimately, the lesson they shared was that “I am enough”. The reality is that we are all enough if we can find our way to our authentic selves.
The word of the day says “there are riches that lay within us”. I am grateful for the beginning of this day. The gray of dawn will begin to turn to bright blue sky….something familiar, but unique to this moment. I am also grateful for this new day and the opportunity to look inside myself. To notice and know the deeply seated richness that creation has offered. I am grateful for the richness within.
If I were to treat the ordinary as extraordinary I would see each moment as new, fascinating, full of awe and wonder. I would be more childlike and be free just to express for expressions sake. I feel that in someway this is what the work of mindfulness, gratefulness, contemplation, and reflection offer.
When I reflect upon this question I find it to be very broad as to what it asks us to identify. I certainly have enough money and things, but often times I still feel that things are not sufficient in some deep unsettled way. Having enough would mean knowing that in each moment deep within me is the fullness that God and the Universe offers. To know I have enough is to practice turning toward the fullness within. By doing so I remind myself that the physical world provides many enjoyable thin...
When I reflect upon this question I find it to be very broad as to what it asks us to identify. I certainly have enough money and things, but often times I still feel that things are not sufficient in some deep unsettled way. Having enough would mean knowing that in each moment deep within me is the fullness that God and the Universe offers. To know I have enough is to practice turning toward the fullness within. By doing so I remind myself that the physical world provides many enjoyable things, but they are truly impermanent. The completeness of and the connection to the Devine is already here and that is enough.
Some of my privileges are time, education and resources. I am engaged in some mindfulness training so that I can offer emotional based intelligence courses at my local county jail and possibly the community at large. The commitment to this practice is difficult at times, but I have always wanted to be engaged in my community in a service oriented way.
Gratefulness when cultivated in a deliberate way (journaling, meditating, practicing compassion for others and self-compassion) would reveal the innate goodness and love that is in all living things. Gratefulness would bring about, and reveal the beauty and tenderness in each of us and for each of us.
Acceptance allows me to face the dark rather than turn away. I have learned that having dark moments, dark thoughts, and emotional difficulties are part of the human experience. I used to really struggle with, push away, or attempt to deny these unlpleasant experiences (at times still do), but that just created an increased level of suffering. Turning toward the darkness in my life and simply allowing it to be there also opens up the path toward self-compassion for myself. This path is an ope...
Acceptance allows me to face the dark rather than turn away. I have learned that having dark moments, dark thoughts, and emotional difficulties are part of the human experience. I used to really struggle with, push away, or attempt to deny these unlpleasant experiences (at times still do), but that just created an increased level of suffering. Turning toward the darkness in my life and simply allowing it to be there also opens up the path toward self-compassion for myself. This path is an opening toward experiencing and appreciating the completeness, fullness, of life and being integrated with all of creation. This is liberation.
To live a life without regret would mean living anew in each moment. Each moment is a new beginning and the past moment that may or may not contain regret is now gone, it is a memory, nothing but a narrative that can be let go if I choose. Letting go of the past and any regret it contains is the practice of renewal.
Dropping expectations that I have about any day, person, or circumstance would be freeing, open, and create the potential for something new. If I could not expect perfection from myself I might simply move in a direction guided by my heart. That would be sufficient.
Very often I have to remind myself to cherish this journey of life. How would I do that? For me I have to be open and present to all the gifts life offers. The joys, successes, the belonging to, and the magical moments that life offers. Notice them and enjoy these pleasant experiences. Conversely, even though I do not go looking for sadness, failure, or self-criticism, I can be open to them simply as part of the quilt of my life. This allows me to have a more open heart and to cherish all tha...
Very often I have to remind myself to cherish this journey of life. How would I do that? For me I have to be open and present to all the gifts life offers. The joys, successes, the belonging to, and the magical moments that life offers. Notice them and enjoy these pleasant experiences. Conversely, even though I do not go looking for sadness, failure, or self-criticism, I can be open to them simply as part of the quilt of my life. This allows me to have a more open heart and to cherish all that life is.
Antoinette, I said a prayer asking for relief from this difficulty you are having.
GCharlotte, thanks for this reminder to listen to the body and its message of when it has had enough.
Hi Bob, thanks for you honest and wise answer to this question. Your response reminds me very much of myself and, like you, mindfulness also lifts my spirits. Good day to you.
Ed, thanks for your comment about having something to reach for. This was a helpful reminder for me.
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