“The roots of all goodness lie in the soil of appreciation for goodness.”
- Dalai Lama
Though conceptually understood and appreciated by most, gratitude is not often recognized as the energy and force of change that it is. Over the next six weeks, it is my desire to unlock the life changing power of gratitude! Together we will deepen our understanding of gratitude, nurture its practice, sense its aliveness and become awestruck at the ability of gratitude awaken the grace inherent in each of us.
Our journey will be guided by the wisdom of Deepak Chopra as we reference his and Oprah Winfrey’s powerful and inspiring 21 day meditation called “Manifesting Grace through Gratitude”.
“Gratitude is a two-way flow of appreciation between your thanks and the uplifting response that you feel in return. The flow of gratitude from the heart is received by nature in the same spirit it is given, and it is returned back to us as grace.”
- Deepak Chopra
“Gratitude is a sacred space where you allow and know that a force greater than your ego is always at work and always available.”
- Wayne Dyer
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life, it turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Nothing around you changes – you change. When gratitude shifts the moment, it shifts you.”
- Melody Beattie
“Gratitude is like a secret key that shifts your awareness. Gratitude changes your relationship with life from an attitude of rejecting and defending to one of acceptance and appreciation. Research has shown that this shift involves emotions, beliefs and even our bodies. Because it has a positive effect even on our cells, gratitude is an engine for holistic change. Change begins inside by performing meditation as gratitude from the heart.
Genuine gratitude comes from a feeling of contentment, safety, and being welcomed in your life – what Buddha called the “gladdened heart.” This natural energy of gratitude is awakened when we meditate. Our intention in meditation is to invite this warm attitude of appreciation into our awareness and perception. With this recharged heart of thankfulness we find reason to be grateful wherever we look.
To generate gratitude, first you need to recognize what this particular energy feels like in yourself, it is the feeling that you are welcomed and safe in your life. You feel that you are supported in whatever you want to be. The good things in your life show that abundance has included you. This is the natural energy of gratitude when you find it inside your own awareness. The next thing is to renew this energy, which happens when you meditate. You are specifically requesting the warm attitude of thankfulness. At the deep level where all possibilities exist, your awareness will renew this energy that is unique to gratitude. You can feel a surge of gratitude simply by gazing at a beam of sunlight and watching how the bright particles are dancing in it. True gratitude comes from knowing that you belong in the infinite dance of life. To gladden your heart, consider the perfectly precise chain of events that created this very moment. There is wonder in perceiving how the tiniest element fits into the whole. How your existence is woven into the existence of everyone you love, including every memory of love. Whenever you feel something outside yourself to be grateful for, it is not the thing that creates gratitude, but the energy of joy inside you. A gladdened heart is our birthright. To awaken it comes naturally.”
- Deepak Chopra
Gratitude is in the Present
“Always say yes to the present moment. Surrender to what is. Say yes to life and see how life starts working for you.” This what Eckhart Tolle, one of my favourite spiritual teachers says. Change the phrase “say yes” to “say thank-you” and Eckhart’s wisdom becomes even more powerful.”
- Oprah Winfrey
“Gratitude is in the present. When we are distracted, distant and not fully immersed in the here and now, nothing is ever enough. We never feel complete, we never feel actually satisfied. When we make gratitude the essence of each present moment, abundance multiplies. Simply being and being grateful creates a wholeness and completeness that is ultimately grace. It is by expressing our thanks that we align ourselves with the universe. Gratitude and grace are always available and here for us.
Gratitude enriches the present moment, bringing it alive. Every moment has its own energy, its own feeling, its unique signature. These are beautiful realizations and they bring out something practical. Grace can only be found in the present moment. It lives in the here and now. There is nowhere else to find it. When you feel alive you are in the present moment. The connection happens automatically. If you awaken your gratitude right now, grace is there to respond.”
- Deepak Chopra
“Think of one good thing in your life, whatever you feel in your heart. It does not have to be big, it can be the sunshine or a rose in a vase. Say thank-you to these things, the words “thank-you” are helpful but the real importance is the feeling. Now imagine whatever you are grateful for is aware of your thanks, see it smiling back at you shimmering with the same warm feeling. Your thanks has been received and welcomed. You have successfully started the flow of grace.”
- Deepak Chopra
Ananda Hum
”I Am Bliss”
This mantra awakens the inherent joy in our hearts so that we look out at the world with love and gratitude. As you repeat the mantra feel your heart swell with love and joy.
Our Closing Prayer
Thank-you
dear tree
for the shade you cast
for the fruit you bear
for the birds you house.
Thank-you for your beauty
your splendour
your grace.
I could gaze at you forever
I see you
…I really see you.
What is that dear tree, did you say something?
Yes, you did, I heard it!
You said “you are welcome”
I can feel your response
and your appreciation
for my gratitude.
I feel
your bliss,
I feel my bliss.
Thank-you.