Gratitude and Loving Kindness |
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I have written many times on the power of gratitude. I have celebrated and shamed myself over the practices I have toward expanding gratitude. I feel shame, at times, when I “put” gratitude onto someone else who has no capacity or limited capacity for it. It could be they are in the depths of loss, grief, and stress. My friend David Roth sings, “I won’t sprinkle flower petals on your wounded heart.” Even though I don’t want to do that sprinkling joy on wounded hearts AND that is exactly what I want to do. I am ever more devoted to keeping my practice of expressing and living gratitude, without denying pain, loss, or suffering, allowing time for processing, and accepting the cycles of all of life on their own timing.
I’m a work in process, learning each day in ever-growing situations and circumstances as I become more awake to the consequences of the old painful ways and the potential for a new way of being.
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“Even in the deepest losses, I have found relief in gratitude.”
— Martha Creek
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Here’s the latest “proof” of the value of gratitude and loving kindness relative to the vagus nerve with the latest hotspot and keyword in the brain sciences field. This is from Lynne McTaggert, author of many books, including, The Power of Eight and Field of Intention.
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The healing power of gratitude and loving kindness
As you know, I’m very interested in the healing power of acts of compassion on the person doing the giving, and the profound effect it can have on your immune system.
This effect all has to do with the function of the vagus nerve, one of the longest of the body, which originates at the top of the spinal cord and works its way through the heart, the lungs, the muscles of the face, the liver, and the digestive organs.
The vagus nerve has three functions:
- to connect with all the communication systems involved with caretaking
- to slow down your heart rate, calming the fight-or-flight effects of autonomic nervous system activity, the body’s response to stress of any sort;
- to initiate the release of oxytocin, a neuropeptide that plays a role in love, trust, intimacy, and devotion.
Dacher Kelter, a psychologist at the University of California in Berkeley, has found that this key nerve gets activated whenever we engage in our higher emotions: altruism, kindness, and compassion.
Here’s the interesting new piece: When it’s activated, as when we show compassion or gratitude, it becomes a healing nerve.
Perhaps the most compelling evidence of this was produced by researchers at Vrije University in Brussels, who reviewed 12 studies involving 1,822 cancer patients. They’d monitored heart rate variability (HRV), which is an indicator both of the health of the heart and of vagus nerve activity.
What they found was extraordinary. The higher the vagus nerve activity, the slower the cancer progressed in these patients, no matter what type of cancer they had. This was particularly evident with patients suffering from advanced cancer that had spread.
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“O Lord that lends me life, lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.”
— William Shakespeare
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So, here we go again with HOW are we going to bring this alive and into our own direct experience? Here are a few ways I’ve applied this lately:
- I have the best mailwoman on the planet as evidenced by her bringing boxes, packages, etc. up to my door, ringing the bell over and over again. She has to get out of her vehicle and walk several feet to do this. She also paid “postage due” for me on a letter someone mailed me and then left me a note about to save me a trip to the post office. Her eyes and smile light the world as she does this. I thank her over and over. When I hadn’t seen her lately, although she keeps doing these tremendous things, I went out of the house to wait for her to come back by the side street. I called out thank you and waved at her. She lights up even brighter. The miracle --- I light up – profoundly.
- I mailed 30 handwritten thank you cards to the ministries that invite me to serve with them and pay me for my service.
- I went shopping with family members, even though I don’t like shopping, because of what it meant to them. Before you judge me further as co-dependent, I limited my time and the number of stores for my own sake. I was able to meet in the middle with less rigidity, to do something that would delight them. Not just shopping, but having me to shop with them.
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I sent 60 beautiful original art prints to the participants in the Immersion and Extraordinary Leadership group to express my gratitude for them.
- I sent a handwritten note to the entire staff of the Mt. Juliet post office for their kindnesses.
- I stayed on the Tuesday night grief calls an extra hour each week to witness and support those who are in a cycle of suffering from losses.
- I got a chiro adjustment, massage and went to a gym for the first time in 20 years. Before you get too excited, KNOW that I ate a piece of pie and took a nap just before going.
Bring on the healing — emotional, spiritual, physical, psychological, and beyond. Join me. Any way you can.
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“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”
— John F. Kennedy
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The book Martha’s Pearls made it to 43 in the Amazon Kindle free store. This is a miracle. Out of over a billion books!!!!!! We had 3000 downloads in just a few days. Paperback sales in the first few days which is unheard of. It’s already been nominated for some international award in the UK. All of this because of YOU YOU YOU. YA’LL. My goal was never to become an author, my deeply wholehearted desire is to get empowered teachings to the whole of humanity. Together, we can do what I cannot do alone. THANK YOU.
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Get the book here: Kindle version, Print copy (black and white) $11.99 or Full color — loads of photos ($22.11). PLEASE PLEASE leave a review on Amazon to continue to further UPLIFT these teachings.
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Let me know how you are uplifting gratitude and loving kindness. Especially to and for you. |
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Love you and grateful INDEED. |
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Martha Creek
502-905-0783
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Submit a Review — Martha's Pearls |
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Submit a review for a chance to win a $100 amazon gift card
If you enjoyed reading Martha's Pearls, please submit a review on amazon.com. Send Martha a screenshot of the review, and you will be entered into a giveaway of a $100 Amazon gift card. Here's a link for help with submitting a review: submit a review on amazon.com
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“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”
— G.K. Chesterton
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My July 2021 Special Gift for You! |
And here is my special gift to you this month.
Click on the box to open your gift.
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New Online Class
Beatitudes — A New Look at The Wisdom Jesus
4 Thursdays in July
If you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness. Cynthia Bourgeault’s book The Wisdom Jesus will be referenced (not required) as a masterful guide to Jesus’s vision and to the traditional contemplative practices you can use to experience the heart of his teachings for yourself.
July 8, 15, 22, 29
Mornings at 9 am OR evenings at 7 pm Eastern time
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Ongoing Class Offerings and Upcoming events for 2021!
I am so excited to share these ongoing online class offerings for 2021 (click on the name of the class for details):
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Universal Christ — January through September 2021 (meets monthly every second Monday on Zoom)
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Mentoring Moments with Martha
Please enjoy this recent interview with one of my very special friends.
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Mentoring Moments with Martha — Rev. Mary Wood. Click here to watch the video.
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Please consider a donation to continue the teachings of Martha Creek. Many of the classes and workshops are offered by donations only, with suggested donations amounts included in the class or workshop description. We welcome your support. |
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You do not need a Paypal account to make a donation. You can use your debit or credit via PayPal if you don't have a Paypal account. If you choose to send a check, please send it payable to Martha Creek and send it to PO Box 1081, Louisville KY 40201.
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