The joy of gratitude
Recently, I overheard an in-depth conversation at a convenience store between a man and a woman. The sales clerk asked a customer, “How are you today?” With a big smile on his face, the client replied, “I am thankful that I am not in the hospital.” This seemingly simple exchange had a profound impact on me, as I was struck by the client’s gratitude for the simple pleasure of being away from home.
At different times in our lives, we all experience what I call transformational drama. These are the shocks that shake our world and demand that we heal, surrender, and deepen our connection with God. At any time, we can complain, complain, or blame others for our misfortunes, or we can choose to be grateful for the opportunity to remember that we can never be separated from our Source, no matter what is happening in the world of form. . Once we understand that the world of form is impermanent and that Spirit is permanent and forever with us, we can shift our focus from the calamities of the material world to experience grateful for the gifts presented to us.
Now more than ever, is a good time to reflect on the role that gratitude plays in our lives. Can you find something to be thankful for no matter what is going on around you? Can you give thanks in the face of a storm, for example, if you are facing financial burdens, health problems, or the loss of a loved one? In my own life, I had the opportunity to do just that when a loved one was in the hospital facing the possibility of the end of this life. I spent days and nights by his side, constantly watching and surrounding him with positive affirmations, love, and prayers. I shared with the nurse that every day I wanted a positive one, no matter how small, but positive nonetheless. The minutes would turn into hours and days, and finally this compassionate nurse would find a little progress and exclaim, “There is your positive! There is your positive for today!” She was just as excited as I was and I was grateful. I got it. In that moment, I understood the true meaning of gratitude.
Gratitude fosters joy
After years of teaching gratitude journaling and the power of gratitude in prayer, I understood it now more than ever. No matter what is going on around us, there is always something to be thankful for, whether it is the warm sun on your face, a friend who brings homemade soup in a time of need, a loving exchange with someone you have never met. before or a squirrel scampering on your porch.
Too often, we believe that we cannot practice gratitude at work, at school, or in our daily routines. But we can incorporate gratitude into all aspects of our life. Wherever we are in our lives, we can cultivate a grateful heart, worth its weight in gold. Living in gratitude is one of the best ways to advance on your spiritual path as it honors power and inner presence. Start by saying prayers of gratitude in which you don’t ask for anything in return. Whenever you have an experience where an angel or Spirit helps you in your life, for example you receive inner guidance, you find lost keys, you have a healing, or you receive abundance in any way, give thanks. Write thank you on the back of all your checks and feel the joy of saying thank you. Daily give thanks to God, to the angels, to the ascended masters and you will certainly feel that the light expands in your heart and soul and radiates out to your family, the community and the world.
Gratitude always fosters joy and is always available. Practice gratitude not just as an exercise, but as a powerful way to connect with Divine Power. For me, well, I plan to practice gratitude not just on Thanksgiving, but every day. As for the man from the convenience store, well, he may not be in the hospital, but his attitude of gratitude is certainly contagious.