Day 13 - Living Gratitude
"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." — Meister Eckhart
Today we explore the role of gratitude in expanding our happiness. It’s obvious how feeling thankful for the good things in one’s life powerfully contributes to a greater sense of happiness and wellbeing, but this version of gratitude still depends on our mood at the time. It also is limited by our beliefs about what is positive, and our understanding of what is good.
There is a deeper kind of gratitude that goes beyond our conceptions and beliefs of good and bad. This expanded sense of gratitude rejoices in life exactly as it is, right now . . . life is perfect in spite of its imperfections. We find ourselves grateful to simply breathe and greet the sunrise. We feel privileged to engage in the full range of human experiences: busy traffic, strong coffee, and missing a loved one. Our heart is big enough to embrace and appreciate life as a whole, just as it is, without worrying about whether it is “good” or “bad.”
This gratitude has reverence and appreciation for the entire dance of creation right now. This is the perspective that today’s meditation will help foster in our life.
Day 13 - Living Gratitude
Gratitude
connects us with the abundance and goodness in our lives. List the
major things you are grateful for. How does this gratitude enrich your
life?
Day 13 - Living Gratitude
Today’s
lesson talked about a higher form of gratitude that accepts and honors
our life as a whole, just as it is—the good stuff as well as the
not-so-good stuff. Are there any personality features you have that may
not be sterling virtues, but taken in the context of your whole person
could be seen as traits which you are grateful for?
Day 13 - Living Gratitude
Have
you ever felt grateful for simply being? It’s not a gratitude for
anything in particular. It’s gratitude in itself. Gratitude for
everything. Describe what that experience was like.
Day 13 - Living Gratitude
Use this space to reflect further on your experience today.