If the only prayer you said in your whole life is Thank You, that would suffice. –Meister Eckhart
The single most effective practice you can do to ramp up your happiness and well-being is gratitude. When your mind is filled with worry about things not going well and things you don’t have, the focus on the glass-half-empty leaks our energy. The fullness of life balances this view of apparent scarcity with abundance – we just have to shift our viewfinder to recognize all that IS going well, and all we DO have in our life. Practicing an intentional thank you for all you are and have brings our bodies to a state that is nourishing and relaxing; it opens our experience to the whole truth rather than the limited view that is fear-based.
We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures. Thorton Wilder
Looking for our happiness or fulfillment outside of ourselves is so common. Yet this seeking perpetuates the feeling of not having enough, scarcity and discontent. Having an ultimate trust that life takes care of me allows me to trust that there IS nothing lacking……even challenges and hardships are there for my healing and growth, even though I experience pain and discomfort. Having gratitude for EVERYTHING in my life keeps me in an open and positive state, so that the healing and growth can occur. In the larger perspective, I can say Thank You in advance for all the good yet to come; this keeps me in a positive state to actually embrace and integrate the good coming my way.
“Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success or failure: which is more destructive? If you look to others for fulfillment, you will never truly be fulfilled. If your happiness depends on money, you will never be happy with yourself. Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.“ – Lao-tzu
So let’s extend this holiday practice of thanksgiving to a daily practice. Keep the lens wide open so we are grateful for all the treasures available to you.
Be well.
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