We’d like to show the side of the world you don’t normally see on television.

How is your life when you feel gratitude for everything that you experience?

Gee, okay gratitude for everything. I haven't experienced that much gratitude yet.Imagine the possibilities!

I know that when I do feel graitude it changes how I see what is going on for me. I focus on what I learned from a situation and I am a thankful for whatever feeling or behavior it evokes rather than defaulting to feeling like a victim of circumstance.

Feeling. gratitude opens the door for me to accept and love my choices regardless of what they are ...and to re-choose. .Feeling gratitude all the time .?

I see and feel myself experiencing freedom in all moments.. I choose that for myself now.

Warm Regards,
Linda Lawson

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by drmike on April 24, 2009 at 9:48pm

Hi Linda,

It has taken me a little time to come up with a response for your blog. Simply put I think it gets to the analogy of the chicken or the egg: In happiness and joy do we become grateful, or is it that when we become grateful that we get to be joyous and happy? For me it definitely is the latter.

Again, more is being revealed.

Thanks,
Mike

Permalink Reply by Michele Selinger on May 10, 2009 at 5:28pm

Hi Linda

Gratitude changes everything for me, I experience such a feeling of lightness, peace and freedom. The biggest challenge for me was becoming grateful for all I happened to be feeling, whether it was anger, sadness, etc. Now when I am grateful for all around and all I feel within, it seems the lesson comes to me quicker. We live in an amazing world, and I am grateful to be a part of this time, and for all people that have come and gone through my life, for all they have bought to me.

Michele

Permalink Reply by drmike on May 10, 2009 at 10:45pm

Michele Selinger, thank you for sharing. What struck me was when you said: "...Gratitude changes everything for me, I experience such a feeling of lightness, peace and freedom. The biggest challenge for me was becoming grateful for all I happened to be feeling, whether it was anger, sadness, etc. Now when I am grateful for all around and all I feel within, it seems the lesson comes to me quicker."

My question is how did you do it?

My experience is that sometimes the resentment is too great against a person or institution, and I am blocked off from being grateful (for example when I'm stuck in fear and/or anger....). If you could offer more than the praying for the enemy thing that would be great....

Thanks,
Mike

Permalink Reply by Michele Selinger on May 14, 2009 at 12:54pm

Hi Mike – thank you for your response. I have been thinking about my answer to your question for a few days now. To be honest I have never really thought about the process I used.

I started to work on expanding my gratitude practice when I realized I could say “Thank you for the lesson that this person or situation was bringing me”, yet it felt as if I was just repeating the words because it was something I should do.

Understanding that when I was feeling anger, jealousy, fear etc, that I was being shown a place inside of me that was wounded, helped me to see and embrace the idea that I wanted to “feel” gratitude for these people/times as well, as these are my times of greatest learning.

The first step for me was to let go of the person or the situation so I would be free (and them as well) to move inside to examine what I was feeling, and why, and working to change it. I used visuals to do this. I would pull the person or situation into my mind, see myself thanking them for bringing to my attention something that was off within myself, presenting me with the opportunity to heal it and put them into a pink bubble filled with love and watch them move toward the universe.

Once I had released them, I started repeating different statements depending on what I was feeling. “Thank you for this anger I feel inside, for it is showing me I was feeling invalidated”. “Thank you for the jealousy I am feeling deep within, as it is showing me I am feeling I am not smart enough, good enough to achieve something I desire” “Thank you for the love flowing from me on this day, as it reminds me of my essence, and that of everyone else’s”.

I found that in order to expand these statements from “Thank you for the anger I am feeling”, to what it was showing me, I had to go inside and ask myself some tough questions. From there I was able to see what I could learn from what I was feeling.

If I find that I am feeling anger over a perceived injustice and am having trouble finding gratitude, I will start by sending the situation love. By doing this I can let it go, knowing that everything that happens is as it is meant to be – usually by doing this I am able to flip into my gratitude state.

Each day I set my intention to be in touch with what I am feeling, and from there I start my gratitude statements and use visuals when I needed them. Now I know when I am out of my “love space” I can choose to use this to bring myself back into that space – or not, and it has become automatic.

Thanks again for your response, I hope this helps you on your gratitude path…

Michele…

Permalink Reply by drmike on May 14, 2009 at 10:17pm

Hey Michelle,
Thank you for that. It really does help. It's been said I'm a bit too analytical, but that's how I am made at present. To summarize those concepts I particulary liked is to include:

1) Visualization of a resentment floating away in a big pink bubble. Your a girl, so mine might be like aqua green or blue--but I really dig that.
2) Go inside further
3) Feeling the feelings, even if they are uncomfortable. After all, often we have no choice but to feel them.
4) Love a situation (even if it is messed up).

What concepts. And definitely better than just saying "pray" about it. This preparation may make that asking in prayer a bit easier....

Best regards,
Mike

Permalink Reply by Michele Selinger on May 18, 2009 at 8:26pm

Hi Mike!

I am glad this was a help to you. I know with my own very analytical mind I have had to find ways to "trick" myself so to speak. I have found the visuals work so well for me - in helping me to "feel" when my mind is saying "NO don't do it - it's going to be icky".

I am also very firm with myself, intending to let go - committing and explaining to myself that I am going to do everything I can do to flip into gratitude or love for this situation or person - and that my mind is not going to win - in other words I talk to myself a lot.. (haha)

I have another visual I use after I have used the process in the previous post, which has helped me a lot with unconditional love, acceptance, and gratitude. I start by pulling into my mind a person that I have no problem loving unconditionally, I see, feel & hear myself telling them that, and I spend some time generating my feeling inside that speaks unconditional love. All through this time I pay attention to what I am feeling.

Once I have my unconditional love feeling moving all through me, I pull the person or situation into my mind that I have a bit of a problem flowing that same loving feeling to, and I work from there. I talk to them tell them what I am feeling around them, explain my intent to forgive, let go, accept and love them - I do the same if I am speaking to a situation.

It takes some work at times that is for sure and I am certainly not there yet - but my intention is to keep doing the best that I can to love them.... I really pay attention to what my body is feeling when I do this, as it is a good indication on how much I may have to work to find love/gratitude for the person or situation.

I have also found that by using this, it becomes easier to pray for them with sincerity instead of a bit of bias on my part... concerned perhaps with what is best for my highest and greatest good instead of the good of all concerned..

If you have trouble feeling, another exercise I have used is to pull into my mind a situation or person that I really really dislike, and to pay attention to what happens to my body and spirit when I am in this space. When I am really feeling it, I flip to pulling in someone that I really love.. the difference in what I feel is incredible. I have used this on quite a few people to get them to see what happens to their body and spirit when they are thinking from fear.. very simple yet powerful exercise to show people the importance of feeling...

-Michele

Permalink Reply by Linda Lawson on May 28, 2009 at 8:34pm

Hey , awesome responses.

You all have some great techniques for experiencing gratitude.

I have found that being grateful, really feeling it,( Michele's suggestions work well for me , too) releases the judgement I am carrying about something.Its a gateway to moving forward into a new experience. It changes the face , the weight of a situation completely.

Flooding the body with gratitude is a a lovely feeling. It allows the baggage we are
carrying around for grudge sake , or for the sake of being the victim, to drop away from us. Its the door to self empowerment , as I experience it. And it is a quality we choose to remain self mastery .

It can be challenging to evoke. Some situations in our minds do not deserve our feelings of gratitude. Sometimes we would rather choose anger or disgust or whatever because that is what is honestly there in our hearts and minds at that moment.Lots of us love a good drama! It brings us a feeling of power. It certainly brings us attention from someone.

In a broader sense , if we forego the our need for vindication, there is a benefit other than a strictly honorable one.The energetic resonance of gratitude is hihger than all those gutsy powerful emotions we'd rather express.

Much research has been conducted around the resonance of different feelings. Gratitdue is right there with appreciation and unconditional love in its resonance. So the benefit to one's body is great. You may already know the devastating effects of anger , or holding one's feeling in ( often cancer), etc. Lousie Hay does a good job bridging the connection with emotions and bodily symptoms.

So, there is more than appearing to be th e "nicer " one to be gained from setting the intention for holding gratitude, and following thru on it.I am over that . For me, it still is a habit I am practicing until it becomes not my second nature, my first nature.

Viollette, it sounds like you 've accomplished that. Congratulations!

Dr. Mike, great questions. Look at the answers that came !

In my experience feeling what I really feel first , not dwelling on it for days and hours and years,yet allowing myself to feel it , to honor what is true for me in the moment without causing harm to self or others, allows me move into gratitiude. to say "Thank u self for this experience.I love what I learned. Thank u for trusting me enough to bring me this lesson to my conscious awareness. Thank u self for what you, experienced.I love u. "

Does this make sense?

Dr. Mike, great questions. Look at the answers that came !

I hope it helps further the discussion.

I'd love to hear more from everyone.

thank u so much,
Linda

Permalink Reply by Ron Alexander on June 5, 2009 at 7:14pm

To Be Grateful for Everything
I would have no more grievances against anyone
I would have completely forgiven everyone
I would love everyone & everything
I would be living in Heaven on Earth

It is a worthwhile goal
I am going for it
Now, how can I transform that grievance?
How can I forgive her or forgive myself?
I am grateful for the question, here is where I start..

Permalink Reply by Kari on June 14, 2009 at 5:59pm

There is no way we can be grateful for Everything and we always have grievance towards someone,someone whom I do not love and forgive.Living now on Earth,knowing that there is someone or something that bugs me...going on is easy , by if not forgiving but by just forgetting or ,because we never forget...by just letting it be a part in our minds,but just a tiny part which comes out every now and then...a pink or yellow or blue or green bubble...let it out ,burst it and go on,The bubble will appear again ,you know it,but use the needle you have in your hed and say "Screw this,it won´t bother me more than I want it to bother me".It will bother you for a time,then you will find new worries ....

Permalink Reply by Ron Alexander on June 16, 2009 at 11:50am

Kari, the key for me is in the question - "I am grateful for the question, here is where I start" - NOW!

Only now can I be grateful for everything & everyone!

Thanks for your post.

peace now, ron

Permalink Reply by Linda Lawson on June 16, 2009 at 7:57pm

Hi Ron,

Thank you for sharing life as u see it and experience it.

warm regards,
Linda

Permalink Reply by Linda Lawson on June 20, 2009 at 2:15pm

"There is no way we can be grateful for Everything and we always have grievance towards someone,someone whom I do not love and forgive.Living now on Earth,knowing that there is someone or something that bugs me...going on is easy , by if not forgiving but by just forgetting or ,because we never forget...by just letting it be a part in our minds,but just a tiny part which comes out every now and then...a pink or yellow or blue or green bubble...let it out ,burst it and go on,The bubble will appear again ,you know it,but use the needle you have in your hed and say "Screw this,it won´t bother me more than I want it to bother me".It will bother you for a time,then you will find new worries ...."

Well said, Kari. I love the way u say what is on your mind. In my studies with those a few steps ahead of me, I have found there i s more to gratitude than I previously knew.

Gratitude is something to choose to feel . It comes easily for those times of hugging a warm and friendly doggie, or a young sweet child , but for the challenging things like worrisome folks or the car breaking down in busy traffic ,hmmm. that's another story.

So when those challenging times come up,I practice choosing gratitude. We can all ask Source within to create its own knowing of how to feel gratitude when we just don't feel like it.With the same will and choice to say "Screw this , it won't bother me any more than I let it bother me," we may choose gratitude.

I mentioned in an earlier response that researchers have found that gratitude has a healthy effect on the body and its systems.It has a higher resonance than conditional love. So, there is the quality of life one chooses to experience and the quality of what one transmits to others and the environment to consider , if we like, as well.

warm regards,
LInda