On Awareness, Gratitude and Conscious Living
My friend, Jonathan has published his informative and insightful “how-to” post Allow Gratitude to Transform Your Life:
We can actually train ourselves to search for, discover, and focus on legitimate reasons to feel grateful and appreciative.
Zeenat is also a wise friend who published Celebrating with Immense Gratitude, wherein she thanked her readers for contributing to the success of her blog, and expressed her gratitude by offering a free ebook: The Best Of ~Positive Provocations~ Ebook. In February she published RAOKA: The Gratitude Ritual
A third friend, Stephen published a list of what he is thankful for in November in What I’m Thankful For including:
That I have learned that my circumstances do not control me.
Gratitude is grounded in awareness and humility
Next to love which incorporates it, gratitude, which is firmly rooted in humility, is the most powerful and empowering emotion we can manifest.
The posts I have linked to above contain excellent guidelines for establishing a gratitude practice. I detect and applaud a common theme running through them and it is “awareness leads to the expression of gratitude through conscious living”.
Attachments and aversions
Unless or until one becomes aware that they do have all of what it takes to rise above their circumstances, and the negativity and rejection they experience from others, they are incapable of expressing the deep gratitude that results in life changing shifts in mental set.
It’s our attachments and aversions to specific outcomes in our circumstances and in relationships that are the root of our unhappiness, and the barriers to becoming humble, making the happiness choice, and manifesting gratitude.
The greatest fears we humans have are the fear of abandonment (rejection) and fear (dread) of the unknown. If and only if, we are conscious and prepared to implement constructive approaches so we can accept the rejection of negatively focused people and the tribulations inherent in negative circumstances we can learn from them. If we remain unaware then we can’t, and that’s why the insight, wisdom and action plans that my friends share online are so very important.
Lessons to be learned from negative thought, people and circumstances
I chose not to reject the negative in my life for two reasons:
When I do use my energy to reject negativity in the form of thoughts, people or circumstances it backfires on me, and I fail to learn the lessons I could have learned by simply being with that rejection, witnessing it, without holding onto it.
I have discovered that negative thoughts, negative people, and negative experiences are best dealt with in the same way that I deal with any negative thoughts that may arise during meditation. I let them just pass on through giving them no recognition and/or response at the time of their manifestation.
Meditation: Removing mental obstacles
Many people find learning to meditate to be difficult. These difficulties arise from wrong ideas about what meditation is about. Mediation is a relaxed state of heightened awareness. It is not a zoned out state bordering on sleepiness; nor is a state of cogitation. Mediators do experience thoughts passing through the mind like fluffy clouds passing through the sky, but they do not follow nor attempt to forcefully drive any arising thoughts from their mind; they pay them no mind. — Meditation Practice: Preparation for Beginners
My gratitude practice
Although I chose not to blog about it I have gone through a very difficult autumn and winter filled with negative thoughts, people, and circumstances and have suffered a great deal of both physical and emotional pain.
At the end of last month I attended a group meditation focused on gratitude. There we were were reminded that impermanence is the instrument for our liberation.
Nothing remains the same for two consecutive moments. Heraclitus said we can never bathe twice in the same river. Confucius, while looking at a stream, said, “It is always flowing, day and night.” The Buddha implored us not just to talk about impermanence, but to use it as an instrument to help us penetrate deeply into reality and obtain liberating insight.
We may be tempted to say that because things are impermanent, there is suffering. But the Buddha encouraged us to look again. Without impermanence, life is not possible. How can we transform our suffering if things are not impermanent? How can our daughter grow up into a beautiful young lady? How can the situation in the world improve? We need impermanence for social justice and for hope.
If you suffer, it is not because things are impermanent. It is because you believe things are permanent. When a flower dies, you don’t suffer much, because you understand that flowers are impermanent. But you cannot accept the impermanence of your beloved one, and you suffer deeply when she passes away.
If you look deeply into impermanence, you will do your best to make her happy right now. Aware of impermanence, you become positive, loving and wise.
Impermanence is good news. Without impermanence, nothing would be possible. With impermanence, every door is open for change. Impermanence is an instrument for our liberation. — Impermanence — Thich Nhat Hanh
At the workshop I visualized myself thinking negative thoughts and how I appeared to other when I chose to attach or “cling” to them. I then visualized those “others” in my life who had created and directed negativity towards me and I forgave myself and each one of them. We are all only human after all, and none of us has reached perfection or we wouldn’t be here in these bodies living in samsara.
I have meditated in this form previously, but this last time I also went two steps further. I visualized myself humbly thanking the universe for the lessons the negative experience and circumstance had taught me.
The last step I took was to visualize the people I had previously visualized and forgiven becoming positively focused towards me, and to visualize my circumstances being totally transformed.
Visualization can be a mind opening and heart opening experience
It was an amazing experience to watch my mind visualize faces, including my own and see frowns, conveying anger, hard eyes, and hostile expressions softening and transforming into smiles, conveying happiness, soft eyes and loving kindness. More amazing still was to see my heart’s desire for a change in my circumstances to evolve before me on the backs of my eyelids. I was humbled by the experience, and I wept openly as I was so grateful for how this process opened my heart and will now allow me to grow.
Perhaps I’m not describing this kind of meditative experience in a manner everyone reading this can understand, but I can’t be faulted for not trying, right? So today I will conclude with this quote:
To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the expression of gratitude. — Albert Schweitzer
With deep gratitude I bow to my readers.
P.S. Don’t miss listening to the music video by Nichole Nordeman below.
About timethief
28 Comments on “On Awareness, Gratitude and Conscious Living”
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They were easy-to-remember, practical strategies. That’s my favorite approach to self-work, as well as work to become self-less. Thank you.
.-= Invisible Mikey´s last blog ..Hunters vs. Gatherers =-.
@Mikey
The strategies outlined by all the others have such integrity. They are simple and actionable. I already have them in operation and I’m grateful f I have found such wonderful and wise friends online. All things must pass. Impermanence is good news. :)
Gratitude is based on the acknowledgment out the mindset that there is more outside yourself. When you are grateful for something, you are realizing that there is more than yourself. And because of that, you express your gratitude for the existence of joy you feel caused by this being outside yourself.
Thanks for the wonderful post!
Be Well.
Paul.
@Paul
Well said. Having twice faced death and awoken still living I became aware in a visceral way that I have been blessed with the precious gift of life itself.
Time Thief – There is so much wisdom in this article – from your understanding of impermanence, to knowing what meditation really is, to your courage to engage life as it is and how it comes (with or without negativity). I am honored to know you through this spaceless medium called the internet.
.-= Sandra Lee´s last blog ..High oxalate foods can trigger pain and inflammation =-.
@Sandra
It’s been a honor getting to know you as well.
Some people find that developing a zero tolerance for negativity works for them. Well, I still generate negative thoughts, and I still witness negativity around me, and sometimes that negativity is directed towards me. I choose to be with what it is knowing it will pass. Impermanence means every door is open for change.
Good times with pleasant positive people naturally evoke pleasure, gratitude and a sense of celebration. The positive people and events in my life by far outshine the negative, but truthfully speaking I learn equally well from both … lol :D
This is such a beautiful post! And gratitude is the biggest and most important factor in self healing.
I’m sorry you have been going through a rough time…but glad you found a way to heal and cope through gratitude. The gratitude meditation is such a wonderful idea. Nothing like the positive collective healing energy of many souls.
Thats excerpt from Impermanence by Thich Nhat Hanh is just soul stirring. Thank you for sharing it. Impermanence is something thats almost always a constant in my mind. Helps me prioritize.
And, most importantly, thank you so so much for sharing my posts and ebook here with your wonderful readers. Appreciate your support.
Much Love,
Z~
@Zeenat
I draw so much from your blog that feeds me and all of it is positive. You make me think and you make me smile and laugh too. I’m grateful that you became a blogger for if you hadn’t we might never have met.
Love and peace,
TiTi
Hi timethief,
It’s good to learn how to deal with negativities in ones life and let gratitude flow.
I enjoyed reading your post.
.-= luchismiles´s last blog ..Don’t you let the good life pass you by. =-.
@luchismiles
I think going into an avoidance mode and refusing to be with what is makes us feel more in control even though we aren’t.
P.S. It’s so good to hear from you. :)
This is how I’m able to honestly say, that I live without regrets. Most people don’t believe me when I say I have no regrets, I’m accused of being dishonest with myself, delusional even. Learning gratitude at a young age enabled me to take every moment, be it good or bad, and find some way to make it advantageous to my life and well being. There are times when the advantages hidden in negative situations are not immediately apparent, but having the ability to be grateful at all times, makes finding those advantages easier. I firmly believe that every experience I have, or have had in my life shapes who I am as a person. Being grateful for those experiences makes living with who I am a very easy task.
This of course, is not to say that I don’t often get pissed off! But, gratitude is habit forming, and it wipes the slate clean before I’m overly tempted to do something I just MIGHT regret.
Thanks for your post TT. And the moment it gave me, yet again, to just pause and be thankful for those in my life.
she’s boxing clever’s last blog … Undeniable likeness of being
@she’s boxing clever
Apparently you and I are cut from the same cloth, so to speak. This resonates: “I firmly believe that every experience I have, or have had in my life shapes who I am as a person. Being grateful for those experiences makes living with who I am a very easy task.” In response to it I say AMEN.
I think gratitude begins with the nearest things, the things we can touch with our hands, and then spirals outward towards the stars.
.-= nothingprofound´s last blog .. =-.
@NP
What a beautiful expression . Thanks for sharing it with us. :)
Philosophy has never been my strongest suit. I enjoyed most reading the section by Thich Nhat Hanh. It is very difficult to accept death especially in my culture (Iran). And it is nearly impossible to accept it when it’s premature. I have always envied others for accepting it and moving on. I have the most difficult time with it. Perhaps I will put your beautiful thoughts into action. I hope your spring and summer are smooth and beautiful as the flowers and all difficulties are now behind you.
@Farnoosh
Acceptance of death means acceptance of loss and we all find losing a person who is close to us triggers us to consider our own impermanence. I lost two dear friends this winter season. The last one passed over just 3 weeks ago. This month I will be planting flowers in memory of my friends who have made that transition as I continue to broadcast my gratitude for the love we shared throughout the universe.
I view death as a transition. I believe that once we arrive at the point of transition, we jettison our attachment to material things. And when we pass over I think we may take knowledge and wisdom we have gained, and the love that bind us strongly to family, friends and nature with us.
This was an inspirational post, TimeThief, and the video is beautiful. I do try to limit negativity in my life by surrounding myself with friends and loved ones who exude positive energy. “Life happens,” I tell my children, and we can make a conscious decision to learn from our hardships and failures. We all face them at one time or another. Some people focus primarily on the successes in their life, but in my opinion we can learn as much, if not more, from our failures. Life should be a growth experience, and we should strive to be grateful for the small moments and savor them. Your wisdom and insight, as always, is motivational.
.-= askcherlock´s last blog ..The Great Wall of Mexico : Part II =-.
@askcherlock
Of course I agree with this. I’m shouting: Yes! and I’ll bet that shesboxingclever is too. ;)
Those who do have healthy self esteem and who are conscious certainly don’t go out looking for negative people to befriend and negative circumstances to experience. The exceptions are those who are in the helping and healing professions. But we know that they also have a far larger number of positively focused people in their personal lives than those they seek to help in their professional lives and in their volunteer work. However, as you point out dukka (Sanskrit word for all offal, garbage, waste, excrement, sh*t, and suffering) happens. It’s how we respond to dukka that counts.
It’s factual we do tend to befriend are those people who mirror our own attitudes, belief systems, mindsets, opinions and preferences and preferences in most things right back to us. My friends are strong people, who have suffered much dukka in their lives, and who have risen above it. They are aware, conscious, grateful and generous.
What galls me is what I discovered when I researched the multitude of LOA “gurus” with their programs, pamphlets, ebook and videos, workshops, etc. Remarkably, the vast majority of these providers of spiritual secrets that have handed down free of charge for millenniums have monetized blogs! Some even have blogs equipped with PPC (pay per click) so every time a reader clicks they get paid for it.
Some are focused on teaching their followers to ditch the work ethic as clinging to it will means you will remain “stuck” in the job you now have. Some project the image that they alone have the correct set of “secrets” to how the Universe operates, when in fact the universal laws are not secret and have never been secret. Worse still, some advise that if making money easily is what you’d love to do, then focus on it, broadcast that desire to the Universe in order to attract money to you like a magnet attracts metal filings, and become a success.
When did making lots of money become the definition of being successful? Who do you know who has made lots of money in a manner that was not at the expense of other human beings, other species, and at the expense of this planet?
After being repeatedly attacked by an LOA acolyte on the BlogCatalog forum I published this restrained article, rather than a full blown rant. http://thistimethisspace.com/2009/08/04/its-no-secret/
I have heard the same dukka spew from the mouths of those perched high in their pulpits in the stadiums they rent for hundreds of thousands of dollars for their extravaganzas, while the poor go without food or medical attention. What they preach can be labeled “The False Gospel of Prosperity and Abundance” as it has no foundation in the teachings attributed to Jesus of Nazareth found in the New Testament books. The coffers of these American based mega-churches where this dukka is preached are overflowing and they have tax free status – wake up America!
Without doubt a subset of these false preachers, teachers and their sheeple are the teabagger bigots, who are the millstones around the necks of those Americans, who do comprehend what must be done … need I say more? I think not, as this comment has become a rant.
I found a very inspiring quote:
Gratitude is the heart’s memory. ~ French Proverb
Gratitude is something we should all aspire to, for it is essential for our spiritual growth.
.-= Blogging Perspectives Daily´s last blog ..Old Posts Become New Again =-.
@Joseph
Thanks for sharing that proverb. It’s a good one. I also agree with your statement as well. :)
Timethief, this a very beautiful article on awareness and gratitude
@Joseph
I’m glad you enjoyed it. :)
In our society so much is geared toward making people (aka; consumers,) unhappy, divided & insecure. Gratitude & appreciation aren’t really that difficult if one takes a few moments to really look at themselves. Happiness isn’t as difficult as we silly humans like to make it out to be.
.-= Lana´s last blog ..Fontainebleau & Good News =-.
@Lana,
I agree 100% :)
Thank you for writing this. I have been searching for ideas on how to let go of bitterness of death and many other things lol. Reading your paragraph about impermanence finally hit me. I cant say I understand it mentally just yet but emotionally it is making a lot of sense for me.
I just love reading your blog. You always give me a sense of peace and hope.
<3 Peace and blessings to you timethief
@Lola
It’s good to hear from you. :)
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