Daily Question, August 27 How could a sense of gratitude shift my perspective in this moment? 46 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuYesterday I journaled about making small steps with gratitude if need be. Sometimes, we cannot honestly feel that we love our lives, but we can love the potential they contain, and that causes a shift. “Conversations in Quarantine on Creating Sacred Spaces: For a good many years, I have woken up with the raising of my arms heavenward accompanied by a heart-felt declaration of, “I love my life…” I programmed in this practice as a grateful, energetic way to start the day. These past mo...Yesterday I journaled about making small steps with gratitude if need be. Sometimes, we cannot honestly feel that we love our lives, but we can love the potential they contain, and that causes a shift. “Conversations in Quarantine on Creating Sacred Spaces: For a good many years, I have woken up with the raising of my arms heavenward accompanied by a heart-felt declaration of, “I love my life…” I programmed in this practice as a grateful, energetic way to start the day. These past months I have forgotten this practice, so I employed it again three days ago. This morning I woke up awash with a melancholy wishing I was back in my bed in Thailand. I felt embraced by my perfect mattress and the fan blowing on my sarong clad body. I heard the roosters crowing themselves to life and my neighboring doctor closing his door as he left for his daily jog. I smelled the street food sellers frying up large batches of garlic in the dark. I felt a deep sense of loss. All I could squeak out was a weak, “I love my life…” then, “I miss my old life. I loved it. I loved where I lived and how I had made it home. This present life is not familiar, nor exactly what I want it to be.” tumbled out. After much sadness, I resolutely added, “But I will learn to love this space in my life. Today, all I can love is what it will be potentially, and that is a good start!” Over my morning coffee, I read this article on Creating a Beautiful Home. It resonated with what I had done to my apartment in Thailand. It was an empty, dull, ill-colored space when I first moved in. Over the five years living in it, I had turned it into an “Island Sanctuary” in a sea of Siamese madness. While I own so little at present and have no desire to accrue much more, I realized that I could pour love and joy into my tiny, less than perfect, new abode. It’s my attitude and filling my space well that makes the difference. About to have my second coffee, I am ready to raise my arms in a salute and say, “I love my life, my place within this world, and the power I have to transform spaces to nurture my spirit so I may nurture others too!” https://www.dailyom.com/cgi-bin/display/articledisplay.cgi?aid=74111 Read More3 Reply Judith4 months agoJudithAbsolutely beautiful! Thank you! 1 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuThank you Judith ?❣ 0 Reply Don Jones4 months agoDon JonesWithout fail… it lifts my gaze, changes the energy positively, softens hardness in the heart, opens a space for Love, Joy and Bliss to flood in… and stops the autistic dialogue – bringing a realisation that my (apparently) important problem is of little consequence because on the scale of the cosmos, everything is going incredibly well! 1 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuI understand the Autistic dialogue. I look at it all as fractals, imperfect apparently, until we see the patterns of the divine throughout which causes us to realize it is perfect in the big picture. 1 Reply Hot Sauce4 months agoHot SauceLately, I've been feeling a little cynical about people, thinking that perhaps liberals are unforgiving; conservatives are heartless; moderates are spineless; libertarians are unrealistic; and the green party actually has little to do with sustainability. I've been fed up with our political institutions and their BS, but perhaps a sense of gratitude can remind me that all this nonsense is part of our collective evolution. Perhaps right now we are confronting the worst in ourselves so that we can...Lately, I’ve been feeling a little cynical about people, thinking that perhaps liberals are unforgiving; conservatives are heartless; moderates are spineless; libertarians are unrealistic; and the green party actually has little to do with sustainability. I’ve been fed up with our political institutions and their BS, but perhaps a sense of gratitude can remind me that all this nonsense is part of our collective evolution. Perhaps right now we are confronting the worst in ourselves so that we can see where we’ve gone wrong and become a new kind of humanity going forward. Perhaps this political turmoil is a doorway into the best parts of ourselves that we can shine forth. Read More6 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuI hear you Hot Sauce. Quite the opportunity to practice hard-won gratitude. I have stopped dieting on politics, as it began to poison me. I inform myself at specified times and no more. Same with COVID-19 updates. Aware but not bombarded. I have decided to modal what I would like politicians to be rather than dictate--in my mind with great loss of energy--what they should be. So far, I have remained somewhat sane during the endless mudslinging and vitriol. Let's see how I do as time rolls on...I hear you Hot Sauce. Quite the opportunity to practice hard-won gratitude. I have stopped dieting on politics, as it began to poison me. I inform myself at specified times and no more. Same with COVID-19 updates. Aware but not bombarded. I have decided to modal what I would like politicians to be rather than dictate–in my mind with great loss of energy–what they should be. So far, I have remained somewhat sane during the endless mudslinging and vitriol. Let’s see how I do as time rolls on? Cheers. Read More3 Reply devy4 months agodevyTotally agree Dusty Su..I’ve switched off my watching political arena around the world. I keep informed but don’t rehash the news over and over again.. it’s made a difference 2 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuIndeed. Good move Devy. 1 Reply Linda4 months agoLindaI am very fearful about the 2 political realities that are existing in our country today. I am grateful for the truth tellers like NPR and the NY Times, as they do ease my mind. 2 Reply Arleen4 months agoArleenBy embracing my blessings, I will focus on what I do have instead of what I don't. Too many times in my life, I wish my life was different. I want things other people have, do, etc. But what I have is intended for me and that is what I have to concentrate on. I can't look at what I had or what I will have. I have to concentrate on what I have today. It could be all taken away in a flash. Or a hurricane. I have everything I need to live today, a place to live, food, and clothes. There is...By embracing my blessings, I will focus on what I do have instead of what I don’t. Too many times in my life, I wish my life was different. I want things other people have, do, etc. But what I have is intended for me and that is what I have to concentrate on. I can’t look at what I had or what I will have. I have to concentrate on what I have today. It could be all taken away in a flash. Or a hurricane. I have everything I need to live today, a place to live, food, and clothes. There is nothing else I need. Read More3 Reply Present Moment4 months agoPresent MomentIt is impossible to have a sense of gratitude and entertain negative emotions at the same time. Gratitude acts like an eraser…. Or the great prioritizer ….. It will always cut to the head of the line of conscious thought. 3 Reply Mica4 months agoMicaWow – thanks Amor fati – Gratitude acts like an eraser – what a lovely image! 1 Reply Debra4 months agoDebraA shift in perspective to one of gratitude will help me divert my attention from my pain from oral surgery. 4 Reply Michele4 months agoMicheleSending healing energy your way. Mouth pain is no fun – been there done that. Speedy recovery to you:) 1 Reply Arleen4 months agoArleenYou have the gift of availability to dental care. Feel better soon. 1 Reply Debra4 months agoDebraArleen. Yes so true. I am in the dental office as I write this. 1 Reply Dusty Su4 months agoDusty SuMay the pain heal and all be well and whole quickly. Love xx 1 Reply Mark Featherstone4 months agoMark Featherstonea sense of gratitude lifts me, I feel happier. 3 Reply Carol4 months agoCarolI’ve so enjoyed and been inspired by the answers to today’s question. For each one, I am grateful. Thank you. 2 Reply Zenith4 months agoZenithI have mentioned in the Gratitude Lounge that after I embarked on this journey I began observing my thought patterns. I was uncomfortable with what I learned as I had always prided myself on being a strong fairly positive person. Catching myself in negative thoughts and consciously choosing to switch to finding something to be grateful for is going to take time, but I find that when I do shift my thoughts, I do feel better. It is just a constant battle and I do get physically worn out. But overa...I have mentioned in the Gratitude Lounge that after I embarked on this journey I began observing my thought patterns. I was uncomfortable with what I learned as I had always prided myself on being a strong fairly positive person. Catching myself in negative thoughts and consciously choosing to switch to finding something to be grateful for is going to take time, but I find that when I do shift my thoughts, I do feel better. It is just a constant battle and I do get physically worn out. But overall I relax so much more. No longer being defensive makes a huge difference. Read More2 Reply KellyL4 months agoKellyLWhile many days I wake up wanting to change my zip code and make a fresh start, I am focusing on what I have to be grateful for where I am at this moment. I’m grateful that I’m alive to see a beautiful sunrise over the mountains. I’m grateful for the beautiful roof over my head and my goofy dog. Mostly I’m grateful for still being around for another day. 2 Reply KC4 months agoKCAt this moment, I am very grateful for this community, being able to check in and hear your beautiful voices and day in the life reflections. I feel more anchored, connected and able to show up for the day. It is a beautiful gift after a restless few hours. Thank you! ?? 2 Reply Arleen4 months agoArleenThis group IS a blessing to me as well. I need an anchor in my life as I feel adrift at the moment. 1 Reply pkr4 months agopkrEven tho my life has been tumultuous these last few days, weeks, months, I am grateful I woke up to a new & beautiful day. I am thankful for the very, very overcast sky, heavy heat in the air, my delicious coffee and this beautiful community. Thank you to All here. ?❤️ 2 Reply Michele4 months agoMicheleI am grateful Hurricane Laura did not hit Florida, however, my thoughts and prayers go out to East TX and LA. Hopefully they heeded the warnings and we won’t hear of massive deaths on the news. 1 Reply Trish4 months agoTrishThere are currently a few things in my life that are not going the way I’d like them to. It’s unsettling. I don’t know what the outcome will be & it’s out of my control. So….. when I reframe & look at the big picture, it’s a great reminder of the amazing life I have~filled with beautiful people, a strong body & mind, and tons of “extras.” No whining allowed? 7 Reply sunnypatti4 months agosunnypattiI feel like I have a pretty good perspective right now, but in general gratitude reminds me that I have a wonderful life. That I've overcome so many challenges and suffering, and I have learned and grown from them. Gratitude helps me see that everything happens for a reason, even if that reason doesn't make sense to us when its happening. Life is not always easy, but a daily gratitude practice shifts our mind from old fears and behavior patterns and helps us see the light, which has been there a...I feel like I have a pretty good perspective right now, but in general gratitude reminds me that I have a wonderful life. That I’ve overcome so many challenges and suffering, and I have learned and grown from them. Gratitude helps me see that everything happens for a reason, even if that reason doesn’t make sense to us when its happening. Life is not always easy, but a daily gratitude practice shifts our mind from old fears and behavior patterns and helps us see the light, which has been there all along. ✨ Read More7 Reply Papilio4 months agoPapilioI’m reflecting on today’s question after feeding a dog and making a cup of coffee. Although I don’t deny that the pandemic caused me stress and anxiety, I’m still on Earth enjoying the smell of coffee and thinking about how to spend the gift of this day. I’m grateful for the life I got and this moment when I’m fully alive and attentive. 4 Reply Javier Visionquest4 months agoJavier VisionquestPain in life is inevitable. Suffering, though; that much is optional. Suffering is the choice of putting ourselves at the center of the story we tell about pain. Cultivating a sense of gratitude is also a choice that is always available to us in the Magnificent Now. How easy it is to forget the full spectrum of our choices in the blizzard of minor frustrations, upsets and breakdowns. Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist with Harvard, reminds us, “. . . that the more time we spend choosing ...Pain in life is inevitable. Suffering, though; that much is optional. Suffering is the choice of putting ourselves at the center of the story we tell about pain. Cultivating a sense of gratitude is also a choice that is always available to us in the Magnificent Now. How easy it is to forget the full spectrum of our choices in the blizzard of minor frustrations, upsets and breakdowns. Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist with Harvard, reminds us, “. . . that the more time we spend choosing to run the deep inner peace circuitry of our right hemispheres, the more peace we will project into the world, and the more peaceful our planet will be.” Read More5 Reply Mica4 months agoMicapain vs suffering – thanks for the reminder, Javier 0 Reply Carol4 months agoCarolThank you 0 Reply Pilgrim4 months agoPilgrimNot sure about this particular moment, but it is probably true that some sense of gratitude for even the mundane is keeping my head above water these days. 5 Reply Arleen4 months agoArleenI know what you mean. Anything to help in these days is needed and appreciated. 0 Reply pkr4 months agopkrPilgrim, I feel the same way. Have a blessed and joyful day. ❤️ 0 Reply Howie Geib4 months agoHowie GeibThe patience required in setting up the next step can be wrought with stress and anxiety. The real and sometimes exaggerated threats seem overwhelming at times and my own reliance on an internal power I suspect is not up to the task, are all sidelined when I put gratitude forward. For on reflection I have been helped by seen and unseen forces throughout my life when I make myself vulnerable and open to them. This has produced the outcome of my finding myself in situations I never could have fore...The patience required in setting up the next step can be wrought with stress and anxiety. The real and sometimes exaggerated threats seem overwhelming at times and my own reliance on an internal power I suspect is not up to the task, are all sidelined when I put gratitude forward. For on reflection I have been helped by seen and unseen forces throughout my life when I make myself vulnerable and open to them. This has produced the outcome of my finding myself in situations I never could have foreseen, as well as gratitude tends to make me less likely to make rash decisions out of fear. I need to operate in a way that calibrates my actual situation and the demands it is making as well as the concept of self care and taking on nothing that will actually make things worse in the end. Read More2 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2021, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb
