We begin by waking up to the gifts around us. Although our webteam isn't omniscient, we can pretty much say for certain that you're in front of a computer. We also guess that you can read, which sets you apart from two billion people in the world who cannot. So already you can tally opportunities you have that not everyone can claim.
Look around at your surroundings, your own body included. What can you add to your list of blessings? You might mention such joys as comfortable clothing, good health, satisfying work, or a home to call your own. And what beyond your immediate surroundings: nourishing food, faithful friends, spiritual moorings? You may even discover less obvious blessings; for instance, a difficult relationship forces you to mature, or deep distress over violence spurs you to spread peace. On a sheet of paper or a word-processor at your fingertips, record a few of these gifts.
You might actually make this into a more leisurely project if you have time. Gather a little pile of magazines and catalogues, and make yourself comfortable. Make sure you have a pair of scissors and a glue stick at hand. Now you are ready to clip out pictures and words that remind you of your blessings. Then paste these into a gratefulness collage, and keep it in a prominent place as a reminder.
Collages are actually a lot of fun. They can be a part of your journaling practice. Here's an idea: Get a blank journal for the New Year and do both gratitude reflection exercises in it as well as small collages. Then, when the book is filled up, you go back and review what you have entered in it. Try living gratefully. Find something about every day that you are grateful for. There's so much in life to worry about and be distressed about that it takes real intention to bring gratitude into our consciousness. It's truly worth it to cultivate that intention.
Have you found GoGratitude.com?
ReplyDeleteMarilyn