"Gratitude is natural. And it's like a tank full of gas that never runs out. It has energy, it has power, and it's inexhaustible because it's spiritual. It is power driven by divine Love."
-Victor Westberg
::elizabeth::
-Victor Westberg
::elizabeth::
It is easy for me to be filled with gratitude when I am experiencing a sunrise like the one above. I am filled to the rim with gratitude in those moments. I am like a corked champagne bottle waiting to burst. I smile and exude energy that makes everyone around me happy.
But many days the sky is gray here where I live. And there is a kind of beauty to that too. I try really hard to appreciate those cold, misty, foggy gray days too and to be grateful for them. That has real power beyond the effusive bubbly gratitude.
Finding blessings in my life has become a passion to me. And it truly is a driving force. It has gotten me through some of my deepest moments of despair. Gratitude, just looking for one small thing for which to be grateful, is a turnkey to my entire way of experiencing life…even very, very difficult moments of life. And it literally turns clouds into rainbows.
::lisa::
Gratitude has been such a big step toward awareness for me. It is in the moments I take to quiet my mind and look around, that I find myself able to see clearly all that I have to be grateful for. Everything, from the fluffy white clouds in the bright blue sky to a sink full of dirty dishes, gives me the opportunity to be truly appreciative for what is going on in my life right now.
I try to remind myself that every step of my path is full of blessings, even ones that may be not so obvious. It is in those moments, when I realize that I have the choice to look at the not so obvious situations in a new light, and create beauty out of it, that a personal growth in awareness occurs within me. Showing gratitude for what I have to learn from those not so obvious situations, is just as important, if not more important, than showing gratitude for those that are more obvious.
Lately, I have found that if I can quiet my mind, and take a deep breathe, focusing on feeling grateful for what task is in front of me, the corners of my mouth turn to a smile, and I feel a positive lift in my energy. In a way, I feel like gratitude can be a powerful tool to call us back to the present and how wonderful the present is, regardless of its appearance.
That sunrise is breathtaking and the clouds lovley. I could gaze at them for very long stretches when outside. Thanks for this post on gratitude! I did a blog giveaway in gratitude for my readers and I found so many quotes on the subject it just blew me away with the meanings. How serendipitous you posted this:-)
ReplyDeleteThis is so rich. I have been trying to keep a journal with beautiful pictures in it open in the kitchen to jot down things I am grateful for throughout the day. It helps to orient the spirit. (Idea from Anne Voskamp at A Holy Experience)
ReplyDeleteWhat a gorgeous photo Elizabeth. It takes your breath away. With a thought towards gratitude, I shall attack my floor with mop in tow. I shall be grateful to have friends to share a clean house with, as my book club meets at my house tonight. I will remind myself that these women have all come together to share our time and energy in the spirit of sharing and comeradie. Gratitude, yes. My life holds riches that I am blessed to have. Thank you ladies for reminding me of that.
ReplyDeletewow. it feels like satsang in here today. thank you. i am feeling the gratitude. i have an attitude of gratitude. but i seriously have to renew it every few seconds these days. it is so intense. but if that's what i have to do, that's what i have to do!! and then when i get it, i find that i feel grateful for the opportunity. geeeeeeeez. it's such a trip. around and around. a beautiful trip, a crazy trip. a trip of lost, and then found .... through gratitude. there are so many ways to put it. that's why i like coming here every monday so much.
ReplyDeleteI saw a journal the other day at the book store and on the front it read "1,000 things went right today" I have thought about this quote many times since then and feel like spreading this to as many people as possible is so important.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like so many people are focused on what went wrong, that they don't take the time to realize and be grateful for all the things that constantly go right (the sun came up, you got to work on time, you had a hot shower...).
Over the past couple of years, I have been practicing gratitude in my every day life...while meditating, in the shower, at the dinner table...and it just makes everything seem brighter. Even when circumstances arrise or people are less than nice to me, I try to think of ways to be thankful for the situation or person because they were brought to me for a reason.
Thanks for the lovely words ladies...until next Monday!
Suzy
we have been talking a lot about gratitude with the kids.
ReplyDeleteJust this morning while we were outside doing math in the bright sun, Binky said, "Doing schoolwork out here is peaceful." That made me smile!! He realized the moment and appreciated it!!
I have to say I look forward to Mondays and Threading Light!!
thanks
Lisa
oh, i needed this. one part of me has been soaking in the moments, the time, the extra focus i have been giving to my kids and how wonderful it is to see that coming back to me. but another part of me has gotten so worn out i have parts of me snapping. and those parts had forgotten how to be grateful for what has me worn out in the first place. some pretty big blessings. so thank you. i am grateful for your gratitude. it has helped me tap back into mine.
ReplyDeletenicola
http://whichname.blogspot.com
the perfect way to start the week. thanks for this.
ReplyDelete...thank you...
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful..I'm so in love with this space and happy that I stumbled upon it! I look forward to visiting every week..
ReplyDelete