What's Good???
Good Morning!!! Tuesday Gratitude Practice is here!!! How will you take what you are grateful for through the rest of your day? This isn't just about writing it down and sending it back… put it out there! Let the world feel your appreciation! Let's make a difference.
This only takes a few moments to do but gives to you for much, much longer. So put down whatever you are doing and take a couple of minutes for yourself. Every Tuesday morning I am going to ask you to write down 5 things that you are grateful for and email them to me (keep for yourself as well). What are you feeling gratitude around? Here are mine for this week:
My Juicer. My Vitamix. Etta running in circles. Sweat. My New Timbuk2 Computer, Backpack, Shoulder Bag situation.
There are no right or wrong answers. It is about what you are grateful for. It is proven that doing this once a week makes you happier, healthier, exercise more and less sensitive to perceived slights. You will sweat the small stuff less and focus on what really matters.
So… what are you waiting for???
Food for thought:
I have heard people say things like, "you don't want their head to get too big" or "you don't want to spoil them." These statements are made in response to someone complimenting someone else's abilities, beauty, energy. The person that is being complimented can be of any age, the threat is still what it is: the possibility that someone would believe the great things being said about them and they would, in turn, become undesirable in some way due to the feelings of awesomeness that would ensue. Another aspect of that fear is that the person being complimented would become lazy, complacent, full of him or herself (whatever that means), cocky, arrogant, awful, and downright negative due to the idea that others thought that they were great and their belief of those opinions. Honestly, there is so much f*cked with this whole idea of not giving love because of the damage it would cause that it is a difficult task to figure out where to begin. So I guess I will start with the beginning.
We are love. We are creation. We are everything. You can't be any greater than that. Reminding someone of this isn't where damage is done. The damage is done when you try to make someone believe anything else than this. When you believe you need to not let someone know the love you see in them because you are an ass (which is why you are doing it), or, to be a little more gentle, because you think you are doing good by tempering someone else. When you feel the need to temper someone else remember that you are projecting your own baggage, your own feelings of self worth (or lack thereof) on them. When you decide someone is full of themselves maybe you need to fill your cup up a bit more to see if that is possible. People aren't assholes because they are full, they are assholes because they are empty.
Try this, give it out… love, that is. Give it freely in this new year. Let's see how many arrogant asses we make by being sweet, generous with our compliments, abundant with our praise. Let's see how many awful children become awful adults because they believe that they are wonderful. When you know your greatness you don't want to put others down; when you know you are awesome, really know you aren't trying to stand on others to raise yourself up. That isn't what feeling great looks like. Feeling great creates energy and joy and more greatness. See how your building someone up can actually create a world that is stronger, more vibrant, less painful inside and out.
So love freely, live fully and, if at all possible, stop being a dick. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!
xo a