When you live in gratitude, you have less to complain about. Less to say about other people. Less things irk you. My favorite: there's a buzz in your heart space.
So where do we start?
It might be platitude to say “be grateful for what you have”. Yet it’s wisdom. It can be such a casual thing or even a habitual saying. Most of us are grateful for so many things, but in a shallow way. Shallow thoughts only have shallow power. It’s kind of like talking the talk, but can we walk the walk?
Did you know that one billion people on this planet live on less than $1.25 a DAY??!
When was the last time we stopped to give gratitude for our home? Our beds? Our safety? Our food? When was the last time we made a mental list of our blessing rather than our grievances?
Lack attracts lack. Abundance attracts abundance. It’s painfully simple. Yet we complicate things in our heads.
Some ideas: — Write down what you are grateful for. WAIT!!!!! You must also write down why. It’s easy to write down: food, health, home. But WHY?? But if we get more specific, like: “I’m grateful my neighbor and I fall into non-stop laughter every time we get together,” or “I’m grateful my house is the perfect temperature today,” it creates a deeper sensation of gratitude in us than just our general listing does. The reason I’m asking you to elaborate on WHY you’re appreciative is because, again, it helps to expand your awareness of gratitude and LIGHT UP those positive feelings. Make this a habit and a daily ritual. Buy a special pen and notebook. Get a jar and put it near your bed so you don’t forget to do it each day (see below). You WILL see changes in your life. — Create a jar and put those things you wrote down into the jar. Then when feel a bit down or dark, reach into your jar and shed some light on potential opportunity of your situation. — Write a letter of appreciation/gratitude to a person or organization that has greatly affected your life. This practice will bring you happiness, guaranteed. By sharing your gratitude with others, you inspire them to carry on their path. Shining light on the accomplishments of others brings more light into the world.
True abundance stems from internal abundance. We cannot expect the outside world to make us happy. Gratitude guides this practice.
It’s a practice. Not a perfect.
There will be days when we are mad, sad, frustrated, emotional and straight up shit shows. Ebb and flow. It’s important to feel these feelings and let them be what they are. Holding them in is where the real suffering occurs. The opportunity is that if we can feel and experience such feelings, then we can FULLY appreciate their opposites (happiness, joy, calm, organized…).
Gratitude is a sure way to short circuit many, many situations and attitudes.
Allow. Flow. Marinate in gratitude.
By Meredith Cameron
Learning that she and we are more capable than we give ourselves credit for, Meredith Cameron creates space for students to reach out, dig deeper, and not take themselves too seriously. An advocate for creating the life we live, Meredith is influenced by her teachers, Shannon Paige and Nancy Kate Rau, what the world throws on her lap, her travels, and her daily interactions with others. All of this, infuses freedom into her teachings, allowing students to feel their own sense of empowerment. Visit www.mcameronyoga.com/blog.
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