Is it easy to be grateful?

Continuing with our last comment I want to explore how easy it is in reality to be grateful. Let’s start by saying that when things are going great, well….it is so easy to be grateful!  And…when things go wrong? As we face a crisis, a difficult transition….or even a loss?  Does it come naturally to feel and express gratitude?  It is not…if we focus only on what has happened to us or what we don’t have in our lives….but if we reframe our perspective, if we change the filter and focus on the things we STILL have, then, we can experience gratitude.

I teach an online class on Ethics and weekly I meet with my students to discuss different issues. Before we start our seminar, I ask them to share with the rest of the class something they feel grateful for that happened to them the previous week.  Furthermore, before starting this practice (which is extra-curriculum) I ask them if they want to do it…to my amazement and joy, it is universal the desire to take those minutes and share their gratitude.

So, what if you start changing the filter from what you don’t have or miss….to what you still have in your life?

What do you have? How many people in your life you feel grateful for?  From which situations have you learned that now you can be grateful for?   Take a moment and think about it…then write them down.

If you do this practice every single day, you will notice a HUGE change in your life…

Have a beautiful day,

Ligia/09

How to develop Spiritual Strength

In the first post I mentioned some of the internal resources we have and how we can make use of them as we face a transition or loss.  In this post I would like to talk about our spiritual strength. Notice I am not referring to a particular  religious belief or denomination (although this also helps) but to our spiritual essence.  When we focus on our spiritual strength we learn to live more in the now and on being instead or having or doing. We become aware of our essence as human beings and what brings us peace and tranquility.  We act from a space filled with faith and hope, which are resources we will develop in our next post.

If we want to develop our spiritual strength we can also learn to live more in a state of gratitude and forgiveness, which are two vital tools that bring joy to our lives.

Now….I ask you….Are you grateful?  Do you appreciate your life on a daily basis? Do you express your gratitude?

Have a beautiful day,

Ligia/09

Transforming Our Transitions

We all go through life transitions and it depends on us how we take them.  Do we use our resources or we complain about what has happened to us?

When I coach  or counsel with people who may be  facing a loss, one of the greatest issues I encounter is that they are not  aware of the great resources they have inside themselves to face their situation and to even transform it.

Some of these resources are spiritual strength, hope, faith, and personal awareness. The more we remain in touch with our inner self the greater the possibility to use those valuable tools and find some meaning and growth in our transition.

Have a beautiful day,

Ligia/09