Great post! 👍 You don't need to look for miracles. Just live in gratitude. Every morning when I wake up and realize I'm still alive (it's not a thing to take for granted) I thank God for another day. I'm still in bed but realize my husband, cat and I are still here. Okay, I thank God for that. We all have so much to be grateful for. A home, a job, food... the list is long. Miracles just show up. That's what makes them joyous. Just be, live in the moment, experience every minute of the life you have right now. It takes work but it's worth it. Keep writing your good stuff ❤️
Thanks! Great suggestions! I definitely find it hard, having chronic pain and symptoms and high anxiety…and yet the challenge is almost more meaningful because of that. It’s also a great neuroplastic brain retraining exercise to reframe and look for those beautiful moments and fully experience them. Something I need to get back into!
I'm sorry you have chronic pain. I know how it is 🤗 Living in the moment with gratitude helps me to take life slower and as it comes. I don't allow myself to project forward, which tends to make me anxious. I just take one day at a time. I agree it retrains our brains, which brings peace.
Absolutely love this story, Arjenna! When that man said, "BE Gratitude!" something I did this week really resonated. I'd started this exercise in the mall whereby I would repeat the phrase "I am beloved" for 5 minutes; then, I would repeat (another 5 minutes), "You are beloved" to each person I saw walking around me. I made a point of looking at them and acknowledging their presence. It was like bestowing gratitude on each person. I was surprised at how powerful an experience it felt. It was completely non-judgemental and humbling. I felt as if I was surrounded by a world of beautiful people. Finally, I repeated (another 5 minutes) the phrase, "We are beloved", graced by some divine or Universal blessing of gratitude. Years ago, I would have scoffed at anyone who told me this but I can't argue with the experience I had. It was transformative as was yours. Keep writing, girl.
P.S. If you've read the book "Spiritual Wisdom" by Henri Nouwen, you will recognize the exercise. I'm studying that book just now.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing this! That mall exercise reminds me of when I was going to McMaster and working part time for the printing dept. I had to deliver printing all over the university and hospital. Mostly I enjoyed it but one particular season it felt like a slog. I started mentally saying in my head, “How can I help you?” directed at every person I passed. It really changed my feelings and outlook for the time that I did it.
And I’ve read Henri Nouwen but not that particular book, I don’t think!
Great post! 👍 You don't need to look for miracles. Just live in gratitude. Every morning when I wake up and realize I'm still alive (it's not a thing to take for granted) I thank God for another day. I'm still in bed but realize my husband, cat and I are still here. Okay, I thank God for that. We all have so much to be grateful for. A home, a job, food... the list is long. Miracles just show up. That's what makes them joyous. Just be, live in the moment, experience every minute of the life you have right now. It takes work but it's worth it. Keep writing your good stuff ❤️
Thanks! Great suggestions! I definitely find it hard, having chronic pain and symptoms and high anxiety…and yet the challenge is almost more meaningful because of that. It’s also a great neuroplastic brain retraining exercise to reframe and look for those beautiful moments and fully experience them. Something I need to get back into!
I'm sorry you have chronic pain. I know how it is 🤗 Living in the moment with gratitude helps me to take life slower and as it comes. I don't allow myself to project forward, which tends to make me anxious. I just take one day at a time. I agree it retrains our brains, which brings peace.
🥰❤️
Absolutely love this story, Arjenna! When that man said, "BE Gratitude!" something I did this week really resonated. I'd started this exercise in the mall whereby I would repeat the phrase "I am beloved" for 5 minutes; then, I would repeat (another 5 minutes), "You are beloved" to each person I saw walking around me. I made a point of looking at them and acknowledging their presence. It was like bestowing gratitude on each person. I was surprised at how powerful an experience it felt. It was completely non-judgemental and humbling. I felt as if I was surrounded by a world of beautiful people. Finally, I repeated (another 5 minutes) the phrase, "We are beloved", graced by some divine or Universal blessing of gratitude. Years ago, I would have scoffed at anyone who told me this but I can't argue with the experience I had. It was transformative as was yours. Keep writing, girl.
P.S. If you've read the book "Spiritual Wisdom" by Henri Nouwen, you will recognize the exercise. I'm studying that book just now.
Amazing. Thanks for sharing this! That mall exercise reminds me of when I was going to McMaster and working part time for the printing dept. I had to deliver printing all over the university and hospital. Mostly I enjoyed it but one particular season it felt like a slog. I started mentally saying in my head, “How can I help you?” directed at every person I passed. It really changed my feelings and outlook for the time that I did it.
And I’ve read Henri Nouwen but not that particular book, I don’t think!