Over the past month, I’ve been focusing more on my gratitude practice as I undergo a deep transformational change in my living space and in my life. I’m in the midst of a physical and emotional remodel, which brings up a lot of unknowns, fears, and doubts. To calm the fear, doubt, and to start rewiring myself to trust more deeply, I decided to focus on gratitude.
The first step I took was watching the documentary Gratitude Revealed on the Louie Channel, a free platform that offers wonderful creative, artistic, and conscious films. This inspired me to revisit a book I read years ago, The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, and I began incorporating some of its practices into my daily routine.
I’ve always practiced gratitude – whether it’s thanking the earth with each step while hiking, expressing ten things I’m grateful for before bed, or giving thanks at the end of my morning meditation. However, the insights from the book and film inspired me to take my practice to another level.
I’ve realized that when I put concentrated effort into being grateful in the moment, it opens the door for more miracles and magic to occur. My days run more smoothly; I stay in flow connected to my heart and what truly matters, rather than getting caught up in my head. I even express gratitude for solutions that haven’t yet revealed themselves, building trust in myself, which allows me to relax and receive.
Gratitude helps us embrace difficult emotions, and fosters a sense of fullness in our lives. By focusing on what we do have, we create space for joy, and diminish the weight of what we lack.
I love what Jack Kornfield says: “Without suffering, we don’t develop compassion. It is where our hearts grow wise.” As we live gratefully, we cultivate trust in life.
May this serve as a reminder to prioritize gratitude, especially in challenging times. Embracing gratitude is an important practice that nurtures wisdom.
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