The Most Potent Spiritual Practice - Gratitude
Except for the gentle sound of the wind in the trees, it's quiet here in New Jersey. The songbirds have moved on and the stillness of late summer is resting at Underhill. I'm sitting by an open window grateful for the sounds of peacefulness but…
I'm going to be truthful though, my thoughts have been “sour” the past few days.
Nothing has gone bad. My family is doing well. I have been eating well and getting enough exercise. My thoughts are horrible - I won't go into detail, lest I bring you down. Sometimes it just feels mysterious or the clues feel vague. So it is time to do the most potent mental practice of all - The practice of gratitude.
Gratitude may be broadly defined as the appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself. It represents a general state of thankfulness and/or appreciation. Studies have shown that gratitude affects our state of well-being.
The practice can be simple:
Get a notebook and write 3 or more things I am grateful for daily.
Write one person a day and tell them why I am grateful for them.
Do this for 21 days.
It works. I've done it before. The hard part is keeping inspired to do it. Here are some of my favorite quotes that encourage me.
“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ―Thich Nhat Hanh, Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ―Epicurus
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” ―A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
“Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.” ―Maya Angelou, Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer
“What separates privilege from entitlement is gratitude.” ―Brené Brown
“You are not limited to this body, to this mind, or to this reality—you are a limitless ocean of Consciousness, imbued with infinite potential. You are existence itself.” ―Joseph P. Kauffman, The Answer Is YOU: A Guide to Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Freedom
A few hours later:
After I wrote that, I felt so much better! Just thinking about gratitude, detoxified my mind!In these times of global uncertainty, our emotional health can seem fragile. Living in a space of compassion and strength is our resilience and service. I hope that you let me know if there is anything that I can offer to support you! Remember, I am just a phone call away.
Much Love,
Nancy
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