Grounding in Gratitude
Gratitude as a daily Conscious Practice and Choice
Each day is a sacred gift. Yet, there is so much heartache and suffering going on in our world currently. It is understandable to feel fear, anxiety and be in a state of overwhelm when we witness so much distress and pain. Conscious living invites us to see with both eyes wide open and to not ignore the suffering that we and others endure. Our practices of yoga and meditation help us to grow in awareness and not shut down to suffering and discomfort. These practices also help us to clearly see and remember all the Good and Blessings in our lives and in our world.
To remember all the gifts in our lives is truly a Gratitude practice. Gratitude helps us to live with more Peace, Contentment and Love. We can choose to make Gratitude a daily Conscious Practice and Choice. It is something we can commit to each and every day. A daily gratitude practice does not require us to live in denial or ignorance. In fact, it is quite the opposite. It invites us to remember all that we are grateful for and to appreciate it in the midst of our pain, suffering and uncertainty. We can think of a daily gratitude practice as a balm for our sorrows and a sweet elixir for our hearts.
A daily Gratitude practice can be thought of as a conscious choice of where to focus our thoughts, emotions, actions and energies. It helps us to keep going, at our own pace and in our own way. As Harriet Tubman, the courageous abolitionist reminds us "[i]f you are tired, keep going; if you are scared, keep going; if you are hungry, keep going; if you want to taste freedom, keep going." So, make a choice to keep going and keep coming back to gratitude.
A daily Gratitude practice also helps us to live in balance, be spacious and keep things in perspective. John Welwood reminds us: "[t]he most powerful agent of growth and transformation is something much more basic than any technique: a change of heart " We all certainly have and will experience pain, loss and disappointment in our lives. So much of what happens to us externally is outside of our control. What we have complete control over is how we respond to our life experiences and challenges. Often, how we react to life causes us more suffering and heartache. It is both tender and humbling for all of us to grow in awareness about and witness. Yet, the more we are able to see our reactivity and our fear, anger and anxiety reactions, the more we can pause, breathe, begin again and try to do better.
Inviting the PAUSE over and over again helps us to grow in awareness of each sacred breath, our sacredness and that of all others. The pause allows us to be aware of the breath and offer gratitude for the gift of the breath. The pause invites a shift in our perspective. Remember, "change the way you look at things and the things you look at change." The shift in perspective makes space for gratitude to enter. The energy of gratitude is infectious-the more we feel gratitude for one thing, it awakens us to see gratitude for other blessings in our lives. Always begin with your breath. Notice how you feel when you pause and take a few breaths.
"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity... Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie
Gratitude instills a mindset of abundance rather than impoverishment. To remember and focus on all that we have (rather than what we don't have) and to offer Gratitude for all the parts of our lives and our relationships that bring us joy and peace (rather than to focus mostly on what we are unhappy or dissatisfied about) will help us to live in and sustain more Love, Peace, Contentment and Gratitude!
With regard to others in our lives, the Gratitude practice helps us to remember and express why we love and appreciate our beings and community! A daily Gratitude practice regarding our loved ones also helps us to grow in compassion and curiosity. To not make assumptions about why folks do what they do but to respectfully inquire. May we all remember we don't know the burdens and heartaches each of us carry. Giving each other the benefit of the doubt, kindness and a soft openheartedness can manifest in our ongoing healing and that of all others.
Come join us for yoga and meditation to grow in awareness and gratitude. Remember, the more aware you are of your breath, the more aware you are of your life and all the GOOD in you, others and our world! The more we grow in awareness, the more we grow in gratitude: gratitude for all the blessings in our lives and gratitude for our awareness that when we are of service to others, it diminishes others' hardships, suffering and isolation.
Yoga in person continues at the Holyoke Boathouse! Classes are simultaneously in person at the boathouse AND livestream on Zoom. See All Details below.
