How lucky we are to live in a time when there is so much information inviting us into possibility. We don’t have to deal with our heavy hearts alone. There are ways that we can shift the suffering. As the Buddha told us so many years ago, there is a way out of suffering.
Finding inspiration has been something that has helped me get through difficult times, especially in the midst of healing from my own PTSD. As my upcoming ezine will talk about, cultivating gratitude can provide a buffer zone from suffering and over time open up space for a more satisfying life.
With this aim in mind I’m going to be proposing a Gratitude practice for this month. Anyone who is interested is welcome to join in. I’ll post the exact details later. It will culminate in a free conference call where we share our stories of gratitude. If you want to be included click here and you will be signed up for this Great Experiment! (I liked the caps on that — made me think of Victorian expressions!)
Deirdre,
Thank you for starting this practice. I have tried to live a life of gratitude and to say “thank you” to people who gift me with their friendship, assistance, time, and talents. Today, I am so grateful for my meditation time in the morning where I sit in my backyard and feed sunflower seeds to 12 squirrels and 9 chipmunks who are my daily visitors and friends. It is the most peaceful, relaxing experience to sit in the stillness of early morning, just as the sun is rising and watch these beautiful creatures enjoy a meal together. They are as close to me as two feet away and I marvel at the peacefulness that they show me in sharing the feast together. I’m so grateful for my “backyard buddies” who remind me that co-existing together in peace is possible and that there is enough to go around for everyone. Being in nature soothes my weary spirit and renews me for the day. When I come home my buddies are there waiting for supper. I’m so grateful for their presence in my life. I think of one of my favorite quotes: “God’s eye is on the sparrow, and God’s eye is on me.” I look into the eyes of the squirrels and the chipmunks (especially the chipmunk that likes to sit on my shoulder and eat his food) and know that all is one. There is no separation, no division anywhere in this magnificent creation!
Melissa
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I loved this! I am grateful for everything in my life. Life itself is a gift no one owes you anything. We must always remember that. When you give in order to receive you miss the point of the giving. If you are truly grateful you live with an open heart and take pleasure in every gift big and seemingly insignificant. All gifts are blessings Love and Light,Robyn
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I don’t where I came across this simple practice to help us age, or ‘AGE’: every night in bed recall the thing that day that you most Appreciated, the thing you were most Grateful for, and the thing you most Enjoyed. This AGE acronym practice has thrown up interesting and subtle differences between appreciating, being grateful for and enjoying something – a more nuanced response to the good things of the day! Buntus
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I am grateful for you, Deidre. You bring so much joy and healing and peace to so many people, and I feel so incredibly lucky that you are in my life, so thank YOU!
Love, Karen
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I am so grateful today for this present moment. I know that all I’ll ever need is right here, right now. I’m grateful for this knowledge because it allows me to live more fully right now. There is no thought of the next minute, the next second…only the beautiful NOW. I know that in this moment I am safe, whole, healthy, and complete. I am so grateful for this time, this moment…I am so rich, so vibrant, so alive and complete!
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I’ve really enjoyed reading others’ posts on gratitude. Practicing gratitude has been a most powerful antidote to when I’m in the dumps. I think having a few really, really good freinds who know me well…have a history wtih…is what I’m grateful for most. And for my family of course, who I know loves me dearly (but doesn’t really ‘know’ me as my freinds do!). And I must say, despite all my complaining about having one of those ‘mystery’ diseases where I’ve yet to find a cause or cure, my body is really, really healthy and strong. Not an ache or pain anywhere (and I’m 45!). Now that’s something to celebrate for sure! I like how I feel moving about the world: strong, powerful, sturdy on my feet. Another thougth I had: in addition to having an ‘attitude of gratitude’ where I’m acknowledging all that I’m grateful for, it’s also very powerful to think of how I can reflect this attitude out in the world thru my actions. I like to look for tiny ways where I can do ‘acts of kindness’ so to speak like opening doors, letting someone go first in line, driving defensively rather offesnivesly. Stuff like that. Small tiny things that really can shift the energy field. I like seeing others smile when I ‘take a back seat’ so to speak instead of always having to ‘go first’ or what not. I often think there’s so much more I could be contributing to the world (and I will!), but for now I like to remember Mother Theresa’s words: “Do small things with great love.” Remembering this helps me when I’m telling myself I ‘should’ be making ‘bigger, better’ contributions to the world at large. What I’m doing is enough (for now).
Thanks Deirdre for this and for the participant on forum who originally inspired this Gratitude Practice.
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Today I’m grateful for the rain, the much needed rain, that washes the earth clean and renews the face of the earth. I’m grateful for another day of life. I’m grateful for kind people in my life who seem to “come out of nowhere” when I need them most. The Universe always provides…this I do believe. I know that I need to maintain an attitude of gratitude in order to be open more to all the good things that come into my life. There is so much good that comes to me. I need to focus my attention on the good in my life. When I do this, it seems that only more good comes. Be open to receive…that is the key for me. I give thanks for the gift of friends. I am blessed!
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Melissa I’m glad you kept this going!
Just to share that the highlight of my summer was a concert by the ocean where I ‘cut some serious rug’ (ie, danced up a storm). My calves were sore for a week!
What’s so cool about this is that much of my history is marked by many a close call where I could’ve easily been dead by now. So to dance with such aliveness and joy was truly a blessing! A typical day for me is mired in distress and struggle of some sort, so this day dancing with abandon and not a worry in the world was nothing short of a blast. Am really glad to have the chance to share it here.
Here’s to continuting to live with an ‘attitude of gratitude’.
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I’m grateful today for the women who touch my life in a myriad of ways. I am so blessed to know such strong women, full of courage and conviction. When the world seems messy and sometimes appears “ugly”, I remember those women who have supported me and showed me what real goodness and beauty looks like. I can sometimes forget that amidst the tragedies I see each day. So, here’s to the women who shared their stories with me, who have loved me into wholeness and continue to do so. All my life I’ve searched for a mother and as I slow down and reflect, I’ve had many mothers in my life who showed me who I am and helped me to see my own goodness and worth. For those women, I gently bow and fold my hands and say, “Namaste”.
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Today I’m grateful for the beautiful fall colors. As I watch the leaves gently falling to the ground, they remind me that “letting go” is a necessary part of growth. The tree gently releases its leaves so that it can begin a new, slow process of growth. I wonder if the tree feels any sense of sadness as it releases its leaves, or in all its wisdom knows that it’s necessary to release and let go of the old and allow dormancy to occur so that new life emerges. I’m grateful for the lessons of Fall and how it teaches me to release and prepare for a time of quiet, deepening, and growing. Despite appearances of death, life is still going on beneath the surface of the trees as its roots continue to nourish its growth. I’m grateful for the quiet time of the season’s changing. It reminds me to quiet myself, release, and embrace the continual life growing within me and around me. It can hold some sadness and I’m beginning to accept that as a part of my healing. And I’m OK with feeling sadness and allowing my heart to feel and release. Just like the trees. I’m grateful.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WegAgepCYfo&feature=related
Beautiful words on the gentle art of blessing written by Pierre Pradervand.
this video is a fabulous clip with quotes from the book
maggi
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Maggie, thanks for posting this. It’s a powerful reminder of the sacredness of all beings and of life itself.
Off to do errands so this was timely…will bless people as I go about. Often I have trouble practicing mindfulness while doing errands cuz have so many other things I’d rather be doing so want to rush thru and need to constantly ‘remember’ to slow down and be present. And when I think of giving L-K/blessings out to the world, it makes errands more purposeful. Like I’m on a mission to spread a little luv around.
I especially like the part about how when you bless another, neither we nor them get to see from whence came (right wording??) the little ray of sunshine that just sparked them. Good reminder that our thoughts are actaully tiny particles of matter (quantum physics) and so they do indeed have an effect, often unseen in the physical sense but definitley sensed even if below the level of consciousness. Like what I’ve heard about how the flap of a butterfly’s wing ripples out accross the globe, having an effect however subtle.
And just to say, I’ve been giving myself what’s formally called a Oneness Blessing and what do you know, haven’t hurt myself with food since that time (have a hx of binging). This all to say that the last piece of this video was to remember to give yourSelf blessings also! It’s powerful stuff indeed!
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Ah, to give our selves blessings.. what a great reminder.. thanks Awakening for that.
I love this video, everytime i watch it i cry.. for some reason the part with the pastor and the prostitute , really gets to me..it sorta reminds me we are all equal and no one is better than another..and we are all equally accepted in the eyes of the divine/god/ whatever you call that in your life.
Thanks too melissa for your sharing, its powerful.
It’s good to be reminded to be grateful and to be be in the moment, i liked your analogy with the falling leaves… Carol, too thanks for the reminder to be thankful, before you sleep, i have restarted this practice.
signing off in the moment, listening to birds tweet out side my window as day aRRIVES.
WITH LOVE MAGGI X
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I want to express gratitude for Deirdre and the BSE Skills Course that is wrapping up tomorrow. This has been an excellent course and has taught me so much about how to be in the present moment and to not let triggers and undigested memories keep me living in the past. Her gentle presence and her excellent teaching methods have helped me immensely during these 6 weeks. The course came at a time when I was faced with a lot of “undigested memories” surrounding a brother who is terminally ill. I’m so grateful the Safely Embodied forum and its members who have been so supportive of me and very caring. So, today, I say thank you, Deirdre. Thank you for everything!
With deep and abiding gratitude,
Melissa
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