Being mindful of the physical sensations of fear will allow me to see it as only a survival resource. Then to question the thoughts that gave rise to the reaction to the situation fearfully.This may give pause to expand my awareness. What is there here to appreciate? Where the mind goes the body will follow. It may only be my capacity to relax, alter the physical sensation:where the body goes the mind will follow.
Until I read the question, then formed the answer, I was not conscious of my thoughts were lost in fear.
Then I read the others’ contributions- they expanded my understanding of the importance of being mindful of the availability of gratitude in any moment, to the well being of others. Giving cause for gratitude/appreciation to arise, is a good antidote to a restless mind.
I am sorry folks but I am failing to feel grateful tonight. I just learned one of my Irish idols has a life threatening illness. I just feel very sad because i so admire him. I have admired him for almost a decade now. He is Brian O’Donovan of Celtic Sojourn. He is such an idol, so down to earth. I am so saddened. Tomorrow is a new day that is all for tonight
Gratitude for me is a way of being, perhaps a quality. I don’t think it calls me to do anything really. However, it does provide a beautiful atmosphere when I do act. Gratitude as a quality matter’s because it reduces the friction of Life.
Living gratefully for me is a conscious choice that requires mindfulness, not a calling. It matters because it changes my understanding and how I respond. It adds appreciation and awareness.
Maybe my inner Baby Boomer is showing–for me my “calling” is the thing I am meant to do, my purpose. I describe my current job as my calling because it genuinely is that. There’s a Venn diagram that shows the intersection of doing what you love and what you are good at that’s something the world needs and for which you can be paid.* I don’t think one’s “calling” needs to include being paid for what you’re doing; I’m lucky in that I do get to do what I love and also put food on the table.
*Looking for the diagram I also learned the popular version misrepresents the Japanese concept of ikagai.
Quoting Diana Butler Bass:
“I write about the public practice of gratefulness — and why it is important for the COMMON GOOD. If gratitude is malformed, it results in a culture of obligation, transaction, and quid pro quo. But rightly formed gratitude is that of reciprocity and response and contributes to a more equitable and interconnected society.”
Must acknowledge that I am learning much about “rightly formed gratitude” from Indigenous cultural teachers — and the guides in this gracious space too!
To be present and kind, be there for one another, listening, grateful for the gift of being here with all of you and all the dear ones I may encounter every day. To be fully there with all my heart, no matter what. 🙏❤️🙏
When I practice living gratefully, I am called to be present and in this moment, and to see things as clearly as possible. In the big picture, I’m not sure it does matter. This moment on this planet, is just a blink of a dinosaurs eye. In the little picture that is my life, it seems to matter a great deal. I’m attempting to live this life fully, and to do this, I am trying things out, practicing different ways of being. Not resisting, but embracing.
As my 85 year old mother sat up in a hospice bed, I watched as she gazed into a new dimension of Light before her. Her words to me were,.…”I had no idea Life was so short…” I’ve not forgotten that moment and admit I’ve not always heeded that clarion call. Living gratefully is about Living Now and in the Now. It matters, as This, is the only time I’ve been given.
Thank you Barb! I took Fam Medical leave and stayed with her for 3 moths in a live in hospice. It was the most intensely spiritual time of my life. I caught myself saying “Oh I’d do it all again!,” after she passed. Then realized that was another example of my self centeredness. She was Free! why would I wish her to have to repeat her ending/new beginning time? Peace to you this day.
When I live gratefully, I find myself called to be present and willing to grow. I can’t share something I don’t have. Willingness is my job and an attitude of gratitude fosters it. If we want to be a beacon of light in a needy world, we have to be willing to feel and heal from within. Then and only then will we be capable of a point of view that does not indulge in scapegoating—in blaming and shaming ourselves and others.
I’m reminded of a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “Many an individual has turned from the mean, personal, acquisitive point of view to one that sees society as a whole and works for its benefit. If there has been such a change in one person, there can be the same change in many.”
This question makes me think of a hymn called Here I am Lord. I’ll post it in the gratitude lounge.
Thank you so much for sharing your comment and for sharing the hymn. My dad passed away 10 days ago at the age of 89.5 years, my mother is 91 and not doing well due to covid and the sadness of my dad’s passing. This has brought her children (six of us) together and with us all the emotional baggage. I love the quote from Mahatma Gandhi, I will change the word society to family to remind me that we can work towards a common goal. The one of letting our mother have a peaceful rest of her days.
They hymn brought tears to my eyes, I always cry when we sing it in church. A beautiful hymn. I thank you!
Ana Maria, You’ve got so much on your plate right now. Losing a parent (even when it doesn’t happen until we are grown) is very hard especially on a holiday. I hear you loud and clear when you speak of everyone arriving with their emotional baggage. Sometimes, dealing with family is so challenging. All we can do is our best to love them and remember to take care of ourselves. Sincerely, Carol
Live my life, this life in the present with sincere appreciation, grateful of just how fortunate I have been in this life regardless of how I was behaving when active in my addiction to alcohol. Unconsciously working on tearing it asunder. It matters to my loved ones, society in general and my own mental health. Thanks to all of the good people who share in theses spaces and maintain them.
Living gratefully opens my heart and soul to abundance, endless possibilities and opportunities, joy and love…..all that matters most in life to share.
I find this question vague and difficult to answer, because what I might be called to do depends entirely on the situation at that moment. Attempting to come up with an answer now would only be speculation.
My practice in this space is to sit, ponder, then write my response to the daily question before reading anyone else’s reflections. Now, having read several who posted before me this morning, I like all of them very much, but Michele’s speaks to me the most. And reading my own again reminds me of what I’ve known about myself forever, that I can frequently be a concrete thinker, for better and for worse.
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Being mindful of the physical sensations of fear will allow me to see it as only a survival resource. Then to question the thoughts that gave rise to the reaction to the situation fearfully.This may give pause to expand my awareness. What is there here to appreciate? Where the mind goes the body will follow. It may only be my capacity to relax, alter the physical sensation:where the body goes the mind will follow.
Until I read the question, then formed the answer, I was not conscious of my thoughts were lost in fear.
Then I read the others’ contributions- they expanded my understanding of the importance of being mindful of the availability of gratitude in any moment, to the well being of others. Giving cause for gratitude/appreciation to arise, is a good antidote to a restless mind.
I am sorry folks but I am failing to feel grateful tonight. I just learned one of my Irish idols has a life threatening illness. I just feel very sad because i so admire him. I have admired him for almost a decade now. He is Brian O’Donovan of Celtic Sojourn. He is such an idol, so down to earth. I am so saddened. Tomorrow is a new day that is all for tonight
No need to be sorry Robin Ann. All experience sadness
.
Gratitude for me is a way of being, perhaps a quality. I don’t think it calls me to do anything really. However, it does provide a beautiful atmosphere when I do act. Gratitude as a quality matter’s because it reduces the friction of Life.
Living gratefully for me is a conscious choice that requires mindfulness, not a calling. It matters because it changes my understanding and how I respond. It adds appreciation and awareness.
Maybe my inner Baby Boomer is showing–for me my “calling” is the thing I am meant to do, my purpose. I describe my current job as my calling because it genuinely is that. There’s a Venn diagram that shows the intersection of doing what you love and what you are good at that’s something the world needs and for which you can be paid.* I don’t think one’s “calling” needs to include being paid for what you’re doing; I’m lucky in that I do get to do what I love and also put food on the table.
*Looking for the diagram I also learned the popular version misrepresents the Japanese concept of ikagai.
Quoting Diana Butler Bass:
“I write about the public practice of gratefulness — and why it is important for the COMMON GOOD. If gratitude is malformed, it results in a culture of obligation, transaction, and quid pro quo. But rightly formed gratitude is that of reciprocity and response and contributes to a more equitable and interconnected society.”
Must acknowledge that I am learning much about “rightly formed gratitude” from Indigenous cultural teachers — and the guides in this gracious space too!
To be present and kind, be there for one another, listening, grateful for the gift of being here with all of you and all the dear ones I may encounter every day. To be fully there with all my heart, no matter what. 🙏❤️🙏
When I practice living gratefully, I am called to be present and in this moment, and to see things as clearly as possible. In the big picture, I’m not sure it does matter. This moment on this planet, is just a blink of a dinosaurs eye. In the little picture that is my life, it seems to matter a great deal. I’m attempting to live this life fully, and to do this, I am trying things out, practicing different ways of being. Not resisting, but embracing.
What am I called do? Live fully and in the present moment.
It matters because we are all connected. What I do/don’t do influences everyone.
As my 85 year old mother sat up in a hospice bed, I watched as she gazed into a new dimension of Light before her. Her words to me were,.…”I had no idea Life was so short…” I’ve not forgotten that moment and admit I’ve not always heeded that clarion call. Living gratefully is about Living Now and in the Now. It matters, as This, is the only time I’ve been given.
I am sorry your mom is no longer with you. What a striking thing to say–a real clarion call indeed. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you Barb! I took Fam Medical leave and stayed with her for 3 moths in a live in hospice. It was the most intensely spiritual time of my life. I caught myself saying “Oh I’d do it all again!,” after she passed. Then realized that was another example of my self centeredness. She was Free! why would I wish her to have to repeat her ending/new beginning time? Peace to you this day.
When I live gratefully, I find myself called to be present and willing to grow. I can’t share something I don’t have. Willingness is my job and an attitude of gratitude fosters it. If we want to be a beacon of light in a needy world, we have to be willing to feel and heal from within. Then and only then will we be capable of a point of view that does not indulge in scapegoating—in blaming and shaming ourselves and others.
I’m reminded of a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “Many an individual has turned from the mean, personal, acquisitive point of view to one that sees society as a whole and works for its benefit. If there has been such a change in one person, there can be the same change in many.”
This question makes me think of a hymn called Here I am Lord. I’ll post it in the gratitude lounge.
Thank you so much for sharing your comment and for sharing the hymn. My dad passed away 10 days ago at the age of 89.5 years, my mother is 91 and not doing well due to covid and the sadness of my dad’s passing. This has brought her children (six of us) together and with us all the emotional baggage. I love the quote from Mahatma Gandhi, I will change the word society to family to remind me that we can work towards a common goal. The one of letting our mother have a peaceful rest of her days.
They hymn brought tears to my eyes, I always cry when we sing it in church. A beautiful hymn. I thank you!
Ana Maria, You’ve got so much on your plate right now. Losing a parent (even when it doesn’t happen until we are grown) is very hard especially on a holiday. I hear you loud and clear when you speak of everyone arriving with their emotional baggage. Sometimes, dealing with family is so challenging. All we can do is our best to love them and remember to take care of ourselves. Sincerely, Carol
Living gratefully helps center me in the present moment, attentive to who/ what is before me now.
Live my life, this life in the present with sincere appreciation, grateful of just how fortunate I have been in this life regardless of how I was behaving when active in my addiction to alcohol. Unconsciously working on tearing it asunder. It matters to my loved ones, society in general and my own mental health. Thanks to all of the good people who share in theses spaces and maintain them.
I am called to notice and share in the needs, hurts, triumphs and beauty in those I encounter.
Living gratefully opens my heart and soul to abundance, endless possibilities and opportunities, joy and love…..all that matters most in life to share.
I find this question vague and difficult to answer, because what I might be called to do depends entirely on the situation at that moment. Attempting to come up with an answer now would only be speculation.
My practice in this space is to sit, ponder, then write my response to the daily question before reading anyone else’s reflections. Now, having read several who posted before me this morning, I like all of them very much, but Michele’s speaks to me the most. And reading my own again reminds me of what I’ve known about myself forever, that I can frequently be a concrete thinker, for better and for worse.
thanks Kevin, I’m the same, I read the question and respond before reading anyone else’s reflection.