"If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you
will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a
feeling that nurtures the soul."
-- Rabbi Harold Kushner
Think of all the tragic things that happen every day to people you know or have heard about. Now stop and think about your own life situation for a moment. What has kept these things from happening to you or your loved ones? Only the grace of your Higher Power! As they say, "There, but for the grace of God, go I." It can be an amazingly gratifying experience to sit back and realize how bad things COULD be, but aren't.
Here are some examples of things that COULD'VE gone wrong for you, but thank God they didn't:
-Maybe you drove today, and didn't get in an accident.
-Maybe you or a loved one DID get in an accident, but there was no injury or loss of life.
-Maybe you were speeding today, but didn't get a ticket.
-Maybe you ate a large amount of food, and didn't gain any unwanted weight.
-Maybe you've made it to your current age without any serious illnesses or injuries.
-I know you've been eating everyday just like the rest of us...and when was the last time you got food poisoning?
-Same goes for breathing, we all do it all the time...yet when was the last time you contracted an airborne illness?
-Maybe you've used a knife, but didn't cut yourself.
-Perhaps you've been walking through your house or apartment without suffering any stubbed or broken toes (it has happened to me before!).
-Maybe you've been walking or otherwise moving, without suffering any pulled muscles or broken bones.
-Maybe you're an alcohol drinker, but you've never gotten alcohol poisoning, or a DUI.
-Maybe you're one of the many people who smoke marijuana on a regular basis, but have never been arrested.
-Maybe you drive on a regular basis, and your car never breaks down.
-Just about all of us use electricity, yet it's very rare to hear of someone being electrocuted.
-I don't know about you, but I've left my house just about every day for the past 33 years, and I have yet to be assaulted or robbed.
-Maybe you are one of the many among us who did NOT get a call that one of your friends or family members passed away during the previous night.
-When WAS the last time you got a call with some REALLY bad news? I've never gotten one that I can think of.
-Maybe your child made it through school all last week/month/year without any suspensions or expulsions.
-Many of us peacefully went to work, and no one came in and "went postal."
-Again, I can't speak for anyone else, but last night I went to sleep, and this morning I woke up alive!
-A lot of us use electronics in a given day, and the devices usually do not break, and most or all work exactly the way they're supposed to, every time.
-Maybe you haven't had a home invasion today, or since last week/month/year, or ever.
-Maybe you don't feel any pain in your body right now.
-Perhaps you are able to use the bathroom without pain.
-Or, whenever you have the urge to use the bathroom, you have enough control over your body to wait until you get yourself situated in the bathroom to address the urge properly (many can't do this!).
-Perhaps you didn't suffer any annoying advances from unwanted suitors today.
-Maybe you didn't have any rashes or pimples or other breakouts today. (I struggled with breakouts as a teenager, so that one is very special to me.)
-Maybe you have sex with your partner, or with whoever, as many people do, and you don't have any sexually transmitted diseases.
The list could go on and on. You'll notice, after just a few minutes of thinking up things for this exercise, you will find yourself almost WEAK with good feelings. And notice--all these situations you are grateful for are the way things are RIGHT NOW. Gratitude is the best way I've found to stay anchored in the Present!
I'm sure you can find many other examples in your own life similar to the ones I've listed here. Leave a comment below and share some of them with me, I'd love to hear them!
No comments:
Post a Comment