In The Midst Of Outrageous Gratitude

Being appreciated is nice.  I always feel good when someone says a simple "Thank you".  But - expressing my own gratitude has been the real secret to keeping my energy high and allowing the flow of good into my life.

I used to feel a bit phony when I would express my thanks to the Universe for a positive outcome I had prayed about, almost as if I was groveling to get something and, by appreciating what I received, I was even weaker and more needy.  Or worse, saying 'Thank you' became an automated chore, an immediate response that was required in certain situations - not a heartfelt congratulations on a job well done.

My perspective shifted not long after I met my husband, Kevin.  I would watch him reach out with extra effort to make sure a person was appreciated.  And, he also took time each day to focus on the feelings of gratitude for everything happening in HIS life.

Amazingly, he would even feel grateful for things that weren't quite working out as expected.  And, that's where my shift in perspective came in.

It was inspirational to see how he recognized that by expressing gratitude for something that was not working, it was actually a course correction that moved him away from things that might have been disastrous if they had come to fruition.

The other piece of magic I noticed was that as he got specific in his gratitude - declaring a heart-felt deep thanks for the office lease that didn't come through, for the car breaking down in the parking lot of a busy supermarket, for dropping his phone onto the hard ground so that it shattered - there was a seemingly fast response from the Universe to aid him in what ultimately worked out for the better.

And, the same was true for the good in his life.

An expression of gratitude for a $75 gift certificate to a local restaurant that was found a week before it expired led to meeting a client in that same restaurant.

A 'Thank you' to Source for a check received in the mail led to a chance to take an amazing vacation.

It's almost crazy to think about it sometimes now- to see the circumstances that came out of something that I had always considered weakness.   But, it's exactly what moved me from a place of phony and insincere appreciation to making time to be fully present in my statements of gratitude.

Now, as I make time to drop down into that feeling of thankfulness for what is working AND what is not working, I am seeing my own evidence of the real power of gratitude.  My sincere gratitude is a connection to the Universe that is powerfully creating a life of workability.

So, today, I set the intention to continue my evolution along my spiritual path, deepening my gratitude practice and allowing the highest version of myself to be created.

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought,

 and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." 

~G.K. Chesterton

"The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am

 and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy." 

~Henri Nouwen

Affirmative prayer:
Taking a breath and settling in to the chair, there is the awareness of the still, small voice of Spirit.  It is a Divine Intelligence that whispers of life and of love.  It is grand and glorious, as mighty as the mountains and yet, as soft and gentle as the wisp of a cloud floating in the sky.

This Intelligence flows through my life, energizing me into divinely guided action.  I am an open channel through which Spirit expresses, a full expression of magnificent grace and amazing love.

Settling into this realization just a little bit more, I feel the invisible life essence of God lift me into the realm of joy, of peace, of vitality and vibrancy.  I let my old beliefs of appreciation and gratitude fall away, knowing that I have evolved and those beliefs no longer serve me.  I welcome the new beliefs of sincere appreciation for the good in my life and I practice gratitude for the seeming 'not good', with faith and trust that it corrects my course into more abundance, more prosperity, more happiness, than I can even imagine.   I affirm my freedom to reach a place of outrageous gratitude and bless the miracles that follow quickly behind.

I give thanks for the path that has led me to know real appreciation and gratitude.  I bless the lessons and am grateful for the out-picturing of prosperity that has resulted from them.  And I say, Thank you Sweet Spirit, for this journey of self-discovery that gets better and better each day.

From this place of deep gratitude, I release my prayer to the Law of Mind, knowing it is done and I only need to be still and know.  In this moment, I am renewed.  Amen.  Alleluia.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of Joe Valtierra/Flickr

How Our Hands Reveal Our Character

I heard someone say recently that hands are the window to someone's character.  I never realized how personal and telling hands can be until I started noticing how other's use their hands.

I watch my daughter typing on her iPhone as she smiles and I can see how they allow her to share something that makes her happy.

I see a mother holding the hand of her child as they cross the street and I'm reminded of safety and security.

I notice the hands of a son pushing his grandfather in a wheelchair and I feel the support and strength as they pass by.

I watch the store clerk bag my groceries, using both hands to place each item in with practiced precision.

And - I watch as the cashier hands me my change, giving thanks for the abundance in my life.

I've also seen hands tensed in nervousness, wringing in distress and curled into fists with anger.  Our hands are a beautiful visual display of what we are truly feeling and, perhaps, they are a good indicator of what we're dealing with at a soul-level.

Our hands might also provide insight into our unique gifts and talents.  Many of us are seeking our true purpose for being here at this time.  Maybe if we tune into what we're doing with our hands - playing the piano, sewing a quilt, grooming a pet, even putting on make-up - we can catch a clue to what might feed us or inspire us.

Life is a balancing act of human acts and emotions, of opening up to the experience of ALL of it.  So, whether my hands are clenched in frustration or wide-open to receive a congratulatory hand-shake, I'm starting to tune into the clues from my hands so I can move through the experience that is my life in a way that is healthy, in a way that is loving and in a way that serves everyone, including me.

So, what are YOUR hands telling you?

Today, I set the intention to recognize my hands as an outlet to my soul, allowing for the full expression of emotion to shine through.

"In art, the hand can never execute anything higher than the heart can imagine."  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, 

we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions or cures, 

have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds

 with a warm and tender hand."  

~Henri Nouwen

Affirmative Prayer:
In this moment of quiet and stillness, there is an Infinite and Eternal Presence that promises all things are working together for good.  It is a Divine Presence that is unconditional love and joy.  And it is a Creative Wisdom that is grace in every minute of the day.

Surrendering to the Now, I sit in the perfection of Spirit, allowing all that It is to wash over me.  I am the strength that moves mountains.  I am the peace that overcomes all sorrow.  And I open to the Divine Harmony that moves through me, free to express the Creative Brilliance that smolders like the embers of a flame seeking to ignite.

Claiming the magnificence of Source that surrounds me, I rise up to the possibilities for my life.  Looking at something as simple as my hands, I smile as I see how they show me my soul's desire.  I welcome the experience of cooking dinner, of playing with the dog, of brushing my hair, knowing they each have their own story to tell.  I let go of any thoughts of limitation and step up with conviction into my greatness.  Even in the simple, daily tasks, I see the exquisite perfection of doing exactly what I am meant to do, in exactly the right time.

I give great thanks for every experience in my life, knowing they each contain blessings.   I am grateful for the unfolding journey of my life that reveals the potential for something even better that I can imagine to emerge.  And I am thankful for each new day that is filled with opportunities for abundance and prosperity that are my Divine birthright.

From this place of thanksgiving and gratitude, I release my word to the Divine Action of the Law, knowing it is already done.  My good is manifesting, right here and right now.  And I let it be so.  And so it is.

Photo courtesy of sciencesque/Flickr