Gratitude Unlocks the Fullness of Life.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend." Melody Beattie, Author
Are you Struggling? to find Gratitude? to find Joy?
There are many ways to practice gratitude. I am offering a quick, simple practice of gathering Thanks to help prepare for the Giving of the holiday season - to shift focus from struggle to gratitude and create more joy.
If you choose to play with me, gather a few tools: a pad of mini post-it notes, a pencil/pen and identify a space you see daily: like a kitchen cabinet door or bathroom mirror. Each day you can add a post-it note with one thing you are grateful for to the space. Multiple family members can play with different colored post-its or their own cabinet door!
No worries if you are having trouble with finding a pad-full of things to be thankful for right now. We can start small with just one thing for which you are thankful. If all else fails, go basic. Find one thing that is "working for you" or that you like. (Hint-things you dislike can also help you to identify the opposite, things you like.) Then keep asking why do I like it? what is connected with it? where did it come from? These are clues to expansive gratitude . . . associations and questions. It is kind of like building a word web - allowing each answer to lead you to a vision in your heart. A picture is worth a thousand words, same idea. One gratitude can lead to another.
Example: Here is an example from my glamorous (sarcasm, very simple) life.
I struggle to keep warm in winter. So as I am freezing walking my dog, I think . . .
I am grateful for indoor plumbing. Why? I can stay warm and not have to go outside to use the bathroom or get water. Now I find myself picturing my bathroom in my heart. This one gratitude held in my heart opens up a world of possibilities for more gratitude. I keep asking: what else is in there? why? who? when? What else in that room or related to that grabs my attention? The bathtub! Free associations start flowing: soft towels, a warm bath, lavender essential oil, sea salt, candle, the free 21-day meditation series, Oprah, Deepak, their producers, my computer, music, internet provider, modem, etc.
The gratitude list expands - it can go on and on from the sacred to include the mundane that usually escapes our attention/appreciation which enables these sacred enJOYments. This can lead to mindful gratitude for what otherwise gets taken for granted.
What one simple, basic thing draws the appreciation of your heart?
When focused on and expanded, it can fill a stack of post-it gratitude notes in no time! Have fun and shift your focus! Or not. Seizing Gratitude and Joy is a choice. :)
I can help guide you and walk with you into the chambers of your heart to reconnect you with the wonder and wisdom of your Inner Child. I offer Psychic Soul Coaching with Awareness Release Technique (A.R.T.) sessions as vehicles. It would be an honor to hold sacred space for more of your Soul to enter in. I also have other offerings featured below.
Blessings and gratitude,
Laura :)
SoulFlowerWisdom.com
SoulFlowerWisdom@gmail.com