Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:)

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Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:)

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Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 9:25:17 AM

Greatful

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Joined: 12/21/2007
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Lately Ive been realizing that it really helps if I am grateful for what I DONT UNDERSTAND--and still realize there is a lesson within it.

EVERYTHING has a lesson in it and can be looked upon as a 'good thing'. I used to think of things in black and white, good and bad, but Im realizing now NOT TO JUDGE anything anymore! It has really helped me to stay grateful.:)

I write a daily Gratitude List in my journal and obviously its easy to list all the things that I DO have and the things that are going well BUT what about the things that might be 'considered' not good? What about the parts of me that I dont understand? What about my 'dark side'? What about the things that might be perplexing to me? What about the unanswered questions? What about the frustrations and sadness??

Can I also be GRATEFUL for those things??

Ive been reading a lot of books lately including 'HAPPY FOR NO REASON" by Marci Shamoff?---and all of them seem to have been saying to bless it ALL!!. Look for the good within EVERYTHING----- sooo Ive been practicing that lately and its made a huge difference in my life!

Its been challenging but definitely making a difference to see everything, (even the seeming problems) as 'opportunities'! WOW what a change of attitude this has brought me lately! What an AHA moment!

I just wanted to share this because Ive experienced a deep shift in my consciousness just by adopting this belief.

FOr instance lately Ive been in sort of a 'creative slump'. (Im an artist). I just havent felt a ZEST for creating any art. Its been confusing to me since ive normally been in a pretty frantic creative frenzy! All of a sudden I just STOPPED..like I hit a wall!

Instead of beating myself up (like I wanted to do) Ive been saying to myself..

'This time is my time of REST. I am glad to have this opportunity to be able to REGROUP and NOT work on my art. Its all good! When I DO get back to my creative grooove it will be even bettter because I have had this time of rest and contemplation.'

( I used to really get into fear and anxiety when my desire to make art wasnt here because I am the soul breadwinner in my family. I own an art gallery/studio and my art sales have 'thankfully' been supporting my bf and 3 cats for quite a few years. When for some reason I dont feel creative Ive gotten very scared and fearful that I wont 'get it back'. Its silly because I always do 'get it back'!).

Im grateful today for my new awarenesses!

Thanx for letting me share.
Michelle

Post #: 1

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 9:38:50 AM

Thankful one

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Michelle,
Thanks for speaking about being grateful for the entirety of all we experience. This is what others may call Advanced Gratefulness.

It sure is easy to be grateful for the wonderful things and people in our life. I am trying to decipher the lessons with the people and events that I certainly would not choose and how I can be grateful for those.

It's a place for me where it requires a higher level of trust in the absolute wonder that is life.

I am learning to appreciate the fact that "the wonder that is life" means that you frequently "wonder what is going on in your life".

I appreciate your sharing how you have come to this period of rest. That concept is helpful to me to be able to input the idea of "a restful place" as an alternative to "nothing's happening".

_____________________________

Thankful one

Gratitude is the acknowledgement of goodness in one's life. In gratitude we say yes to life... from Thanks - How the new science of gratitude can make you happier by Robert Emmons, Ph.D.

Post #: 2

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 3:07:19 PM

buttington

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quote:

I am learning to appreciate the fact that "the wonder that is life" means that you frequently "wonder what is going on in your life".

Thankful one, this made me chuckle! I have spent an awful lot of time in recent years wondering what on earth is happening in my life.

Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way

Post #: 3

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 3:24:13 PM

Hildegard

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From: Chicago
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Michelle, I am reminded of what Brother David Steindl-Rast writes in his book, "Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer." We don't need to be grateful for the painful, sad and distressing things we encounter as such, but for the opportunity they provide to learn, grow and do something constructive with or about them. This has held true in my own experience. Difficult things have happened in my life, but, looking back, I realize that I learned things I would not have learned any other way.

Wishing you everything good,
Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 4

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 5:14:59 PM

Imenuff

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Michelle, Welcome back. We missed you. Your post reminds me of a story in one of Anthony deMello's books entitled "Good Luck, Bad Luck, Who Knows?" It's just a short little story about a farmer who seems to be having a streak of "bad luck" and each time his neighbors sympathize with him his response is "Good Luck, Bad Luck, Who Knows?" In one instance his son breaks his leg and everyone feels bad about it. Before the leg heals, a war breaks out and his son can't go because of a broken leg. Edda put it very well. I am sure that he wasn't glad his son broke his leg but was pleased he couldn't go off to war. Often, in the midst of the most difficult, painful things that happen in our lives, the best any of us can do is just hang on, but in retrospect, we see how much we have grown and learned. May your art business and your creativity continue to blossom forth.

_____________________________

Shalom(May you be at peace in Body, Mind,& Spirit)

I'menuff

Post #: 5

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 1/29/2008 11:19:41 PM

artemis611

Posts: 387
Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Oklahoma
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Michelle, your post reminded me of something I read this week, about how when we focus on one leaf of a tree, we then can't see the rest of the tree, all of our attention goes to the one leaf. I think the same thing can be said about "good" and "bad" events. Things that seem negative often have a positive side, or a positive consequence, or a positive effect that we can't see when we focus only on the negative. We must look at the whole. Everything is a process. Your art is a process, requiring both rest and action for the process to be complete.

You might like the poem on this website, The Uninvited Guest by Rumi. It's one of my favorites. I'm glad to hear from you!

Lori

_____________________________

To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 6

RE: Grateful for EVERYTHING, not just the good:) - 2/1/2008 8:12:39 AM

Greatful

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Joined: 12/21/2007
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Thanks for your replies everyone!

AGAIn this week I have alot of 'challenges' ...again and Ive been very confused about what and why things are happening. I keep reminding myself that there is 'ALWAYS A LESSON' within EVERYTHING. Its been quite a trying time but I keep saying this to myself over and over.

I also like the quote.. 'LEARN TO LOVE THE QUESTIONS THEMSELVES..'.

Im also using this affirmation alot lately..

'All there is is THIS PRESENT MOMENT, and in THIS PRESENT MOMENT there is PERFECT PEACE'.

Ive tended to live in the past regrets or the future worries, but this affirmation reminds me that this moment is all there is. Keeps me focussed on the NOW.

I am reading a great book called 'HAPPY FOR NO REASON". Has anyone read this wonderful book? Its on the top ten bestselling list this week. Im happy about that!

Its an awesome book. id recommend it highly.

Thanks for being here all of you.

Today I am GREATFUL for:

1) My 3 happy, healthy cats:)
2) My art 'groove' has come back to me--after quite a long LULL.
3) My bf.
4) My ability every MOMENT to 'begin again'.
5) My new awareness that my JOB is to LOVE ME--no matter what. Learning to love myself--warts and all!
6) My art gallery which has sustained me financially for many years. MIRACULOUS and AMAZING!
7) My needs are all met.
8) My health is great.
9) I am now talking to myself much more kindly and comapssionately--not beating myself up like I used to! Its FUN treating me kindly:)

Thats it for now.

:)