Importance of Gratitude

At this time of the year, the holiday season, it is easy to get caught up in the reality of what we want versus what we have. With all the movies and mass marketing telling us what a perfect holiday season looks like, we often feel as though we are missing out or ‘less than’. When feeling low over the holidays, and at any other time, take a good look inward and notice all that you have to be grateful for.

Did you know that it has been scientifically proven, for those who need such assurances, that gratitude effectively fights depression? I am not talking about simply the obvious things to be grateful for, I mean gratitude for the minuscule such as the ants, plants and bacteria, the memories and the dreams, but also the great, like the mountains,the tall trees that bind the soil and the elements. A thankful heart allows room for a change in perspective, and sometimes, not always, a change in perspective is all we need.

When you are feeling down, ask yourself if your mood might be a result of biased thinking, which is what your brain offers you most readily.

Life throws crap at you regularly; it will do so continually. Most see it as a bad thing. However, we all receive with that crap, the gift of the opportunity to learn and grow. When we become miredi n our thoughts, it is easy to miss that opportunity or to view it as some sort of punishment.

Imagine for a moment that you have booked a wonderful trip to your ideal location. There is a part of the journey that requires you to walk through a heavily wooded area. There is a lake on one side and the foot of a mountain on the other. While walking, you see that the pathi s blocked by several fallen trees. You are tired from the long flight and car ride. You have luggage and some heavy sports equipment and have not eaten in awhile, making the trek even more difficult.

Be honest with yourself, what would be your reaction? Will you throw up your hands in the air and swear, carry on and finally turn around to go home?  Will you get sad and say to yourself, why me? Will you vow never to come back?  My standard reaction would be to get angry,cry, then tell myself that I am not giving in to a simple block in the path.Honestly, I may go through that routine several times as more challenges emerge.

There are a few of you who will lookaround, take note of the beauty of your location and set about to either find away past the blockage or make camp where you stand, using the natural resources of the land around you? Afterall, people lived with the land for many, many years. What wonderful adventures are hiding in the new path that you may find?You would put your luggage in a sheltered place and begin to look for alternative ways to your destination, possible shelter material and food sources, allowing yourself to think of the new things you will see and experience even if it takes a day or so to get through.

My darlings, challenge yourselves to seethe less obvious and do not simply accept the first option your brain offers.Look for the gifts that have been offered. You may not like them, some of them are painful and unpleasant. But you have within you a very powerful force that will allow you to find your way through the situation. You may grow, and,depending on your perspective, you may learn, gain some wisdom and perhaps help others from your experience.

However, even in adversity, there are reasons to be grateful, if you only take the time to look. Take some deep breaths, stay in the moment and challenge those negative thoughts.

Some adversities require acceptance.Acceptance is not giving up, it is the realization that you cannot control everything,and that some things simply need to be endured. We will talk about this another time.

For now, enjoy this holiday season; enjoy the gifts it brings and approach it with a thankful heart.

Many blessings,

Donna

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