With Gratitude

If we only did one thing, perhaps the greatest thing we can share with ourselves and others is GRATITUDE. Being grateful for everything is living in acceptance. When we fuel our life with gratitude, the quality of life that we experience is absolutely wonderful and uniquely flavored in positive and loving ways. This is the beginning of living without regret.

There is an underlying sense when we are living in gratitude that we feel worthy, deserving, and are accomplishing something incredible. This delicious place also includes the awareness of being filled with appreciation. Lester Levenson describes this feeling as having everything and wanting nothing. Here we also get to experience so much joy! When in gratitude, we are expressing that we are immensely satisfied! Think of something you are grateful for… and now, try to describe what it feels like. Notice the feeling of gratitude is slightly challenging to describe. Gratitude is an AMAZING sensation. Gratitude is a gift to you–directly from you.

We may think that something external to us gives us gratitude; in truth, gratitude always comes from within. Gratitude is an opportunity to reward yourself or others for a job well-done! Givingness is also sharing unconditionally. When we give, it is without expectation. To fully understand gratitude and givingness, we first need to completely accept that it is Ok for us to give and equally Ok for us to receive. It is also an understanding that no one can give us anything or take anything away from us. Givingness is a 2-way street that opens many doors of gratitude and abundance along the way.

If we aren’t enjoying giving to ourselves, it is reasonable to assume that we are also withholding from giving to others. If we are uncomfortable in receiving goodness, trust that we are also undoubtedly pushing abundance away from our life. In order to step into the energies of having gratitude or receiving abundance, there has to be a willingness to accept and welcome these gifts into your life. A good suggestion is to begin noticing your reactions and responses when something good attempts to come your way. Are you saying, “Oh, wow this is terrific! Thanks so much!” Or are you saying something like, “I wonder what they want?” Or maybe thinking something like, “What’s wrong with this picture?” If you are questioning ‘why goodness is coming your way,’ please see this as ‘figuring it out’ and let that go. Also notice that you are also pushing away abundance from yourself which is acting in an undeserving manner. If you are pushing abundance away from yourself, please look for your motivation, as this habit will continue unless you challenge yourself to confront this tendency.

By giving ourselves permission to easily and regularly welcome and accept goodness into our lives, we are also beginning to experience both the energies of gratitude and abundance. Gratitude and abundance are wonderful emotions. Invite one into your life and unknowingly you are extending an invitation for the other energy to come along. Abundance and gratitude generously appear because we had a previous thought about having that item or experience. On the other hand, when we are denying either of these energies, we are moving into lack. Notice at times when you responded cautiously or hesitantly, that you actually stopped the flow of having abundance and gratitude. Also notice, that it is impossible to experience abundance or gratitude if we are looking through filters of limitation. When coming from a position of lack, we are sabotaging our goals from becoming a reality.

Abundance and gratitude are positive results of releasing. Abundance is a flow that involves both giving and receiving. Each time we practice releasing we are allowing more goodness and abundance into our lives. Each time we release, we get happier and lighter! By releasing our non-loving feelings, we are immediately capable of experiencing a tremendous amount of joy and unbelievable levels of gratitude,” says Lester Levenson. When we connect with the quiet place within, we are willing to move up into courageousness, examine our thinking and correct it. In acceptance we are allowing ourselves to have and enjoy abundance in relation to our health (weight)…, in our relationships…, and in areas related to finances. In peace, we see everything as perfect!

Give yourself permission to live your life in gratitude and with gratitude. Be grateful for all that you have! Be grateful for all that you experience! Be grateful for today! Be grateful to have choices and opportunities! Be grateful for you! Give generously to yourself and to others and when the roles are reversed and it is your turn to receive – simply express, “I graciously accept! Thank you!” Then be certain to jot this detail down in your gains book. Live your life with gratitude and enjoy the quality of life that you are creating for yourself. This is truly the way life is meant to be lived.