4. January 2012 by Laurie.

Here’s a meditation video that I made from images that I’ve taken over the past couple of years in Utah.  I invite you to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty.  May it assist you as well in appreciating your own inner beauty!

All things great and wonderful to you in the year ahead.
–Laurie

Posted in Relaxation, Choices, Universe, Authentic, Visual Meditation, Affirmation, Appreciated, Love, Connections, Gratitude, Simplicity, Soul | Print | No Comments »

21. November 2010 by Laurie.

I think that it is easy to pick out those times when one naturally feels grateful but what comes to mind for me today are those times and situations where perhaps gratitude may not be a natural response.  I’m thinking specifically of times in my life that have been challenges.  It’s at those times when I may have felt anything BUT grateful that has allowed me to stretch and to end up seeing those life challenges truly as gifts from the Universe.

This may not happen for you overnight, although I do believe it can happen just as easily in an instant.  In our culture and perhaps in the world at large, we’re not encouraged to see possibility but rather the Chicken Little syndrome – sky is falling mentality - is prevalent!  It’s much easier to awfulize whatever situation we may find ourselves in and that’s encouraged by mainstream culture.  All one needs to do is look at the TV news—when was the last time the lead story was about a glorious event that occurred in someone’s life?  One can only hear such negativity for so long before becoming one with the message—garbage in, garbage out!

But if you have decided that you want your life to be about gratitude, one of the first things you can do is wean yourself from those things and people in your life who don’t encourage that.  You can start small – if you watch TV, decrease your watching by an hour a day.  And in that hour you can do something that makes your heart sing—be it a walk outdoors, taking pictures, painting, reading or maybe just sitting and being quiet.  In order to connect to our inner knowing, slowing down and listening is important.  And it is in those quiet moments when you can see that gratitude is just a thought away.

Yes, we can choose gratitude just as easily as you pick what type of tea you may want to drink or what color of socks you’re going to put on.  When you make the choice of being grateful, you may begin to see, as an example, that while you may not be in your dream job you can be grateful for being given the opportunity to be able to discern what it is you really want to be doing.  Or if you’re not experiencing perfect health, you can be grateful for the time to slow down and listen to what your body is telling you.  Or if you’re experiencing money challenges, you can be grateful for what you do have, the love of your family and or friends, your health, etc.

Being grateful may not necessarily change your challenge immediately, although that can happen.  But with a continued awareness and practice of giving thanks, one day you may become aware that while your life may not look exactly as you’d like, you are indeed grateful.

Posted in Affirmation, Choices, Authentic, Appreciated, Longing, Patience, Gratitude, Simplicity, Soul | Print | 1 Comment »

28. January 2010 by Laurie.

Find something new and precious to appreciate every day.

By Ardath Rodale , Ardath Rodale is Chief Inspiration Officer of Rodale Inc and the author of several books including Everyday Miracles.

I like to think that gratitude and grace are like my two hands working together. Grace is the power, beauty, and love of God that is always around us; gratitude gives us the eyes to see it.

Native Americans teach their children to wake up being thankful for each new day. Their philosophy has greatly expanded my well of gratitude. I try to find something new and precious to appreciate in nature every day. Even the cycle of planting a seed, watching its progress to full bloom and then its decline to sleep beneath the earth, fills me with thanks for the privilege of being part of nature’s miracles.

Elaine Hibbard wrote that gratitude is one of the great positive emotions because it creates magnetism. A magnet draws things to itself, and, therefore, giving heartfelt thanks for all the good around us makes us attract more good into our daily lives.

Helen Keller said, “I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I found myself, my work, and my God.”

Life’s journey is never totally smooth. We all will encounter mountains and valleys along the way, but in the hard climb up the mountain or the difficult descent into the valley, we learn life’s lessons and become stronger in character. Be grateful for the challenges you face because they help you grow, understand, and soften your heart, and they give you strength.

I have found in my life that it is vital to start my day with thankfulness. I begin with exercises and affirmations every morning as I get out of bed. I look out my bedroom window to see a bronze statue of a beautiful woman lifting a child to the sky in her outstretched arms. It is here that I express my gratitude for family and friends, praying for their health and happiness. As I name each person individually, I raise my arms like the statue and enfold my loved ones in healing, kindness, purpose, safety, energy, peace, and love. Then I extend my arms to include all those in the world who are ill, grieving, stricken with AIDS, orphaned, homeless, hungry, or sad, as well as our sacred environment.

When we say thank you, we open our eyes to all the miracles around us. Ramakrishna says, “The breeze of grace is always blowing on you. You have to open the sails and your boat will move forward.”

And Henry Beecher said, “God’s grace is the oil that fills the lamp of love.”

Grace surrounds us like the soft, comforting, refreshing rain. Let gratitude help you find the power of that grace and see all your experiences in life as blessings.

May you journey in peace!

Copyright (c) Rodale, Inc. 2004

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