Being Grateful
This is the fourth tool in the Mindset Toolkit…
What is it?
Much like the tool of awareness, Being Grateful is a simple little insight that once understood, can be applied in all aspects of life.
Rather than talk about what it is, lest start with what it is not.
Being grateful, or the practice of gratitude, is not about setting yourself a daily reminder to reel off a list of things which you are grateful for. It is most importantly not about isolating specific things and being grateful for them above others; for to be grateful for just one thing, implies you are not grateful for the other. A practice of this nature would promote duality in our perception and as such create tension and unrest.
Let’s instead explore an alternative take on being grateful…
How does it work?
Founded on my metaphysical view of existence, I resonate with the principle that the universe is manifesting through me and I am at the same time part of the universe. There is in fact no I at all, simply the universe unfolding.
If I (my conscious ego) attempts to practice gratitude by selecting specific things to be grateful for, I am in fact blocking the flow of vitality towards everything I am choosing not to focus on.
Consider that up requires down to be classed as up… you must accept both for one to the true.
Real gratitude is tantamount to acceptance which breeds contentment.
It is an all or nothing state of mind.
Letting it Flow
Practicing gratitude in this way can be incorporated in to one’s daily meditation routine, or once experienced, can be switched on in an instant at any point during the day. Just 10 seconds of this practice done at the right time can shift your perception to bring present reality in to focus.
Here is a mental image for you to visualise during this practice:
Imagine the vitality of the universe flowing in to you like a beam of white light through the crown of your head; in your abdomen near your stomach is a large pyramid like crystal; as you inhale feel the light descend in to you through the crown of your head and enter in to this crystal, as you exhale allow the light to radiate from the crystal in all directions in a vast rainbow of technicolour.
While this is happening, cultivate a feeling of contentment with the present moment and gratitude for simply being alive. Accept everything and be content. Reflect the universe back to itself and feel the resonance build through you. Allow this feeling to vibrate through every fibre of your body.
Continue this exercise for as long as you want, allowing the warm feeling and smooth vibration to flow and manifest.
Be the energy.
Be the vibration.
Benefits and Practical Applications
This tool builds on the tool of acceptance by giving you a way to reflect vitality back in to the universe. It is a way of promoting your flow of vitality as the more it flows from you, the more it will flow to you.
Using this as a meditation practice acts to ground you and bring your awareness to the present moment. You must focus on your breathing initially and the sensations within your body. No words, just feeling.
So not only does this tool promote a sense of wellbeing within you, it primes your mental focus to take action once you awaken.
I have personally used this when faced with difficult situations where emotions are running high. Much like the time check tool, you can use this exercise as a pattern interrupt to recentre yourself. Taking just a few minutes to perform the time check followed by the gratitude practice can make a remarkable difference to your mental state.
To begin with, practice this tool in isolation with control and focus. Then once you have cultivated the skill of entering this mode of focus, you can engage in the practice whenever you need to.
The universe will share its abundance with you,
but you must be ready and willing to accept it.
All of it.
It is only by embracing the whole,
that we be able to fulfil our role as part of it.
Enjoy, for now.
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