Gratitude Exeriment: Day 46 | The Gratitude Experiment

The practice of Proactive Gratitude is surely discipline that requires us being vigilant…vigilant in our thoughts and reactions to events and people in our lives. It is so easy to react to frustrating occurrences by getting angry, particularly if we’re sure it’s someone else’s fault. We feel justified in our anger. It’s easy to react to current physical “facts” like seeing a lack of money in our bank account and many bills to pay. It’s easy to get fearful and upset. It’s easy to react to loss or rejection by friends, lovers or potential employers by getting depressed. These are all natural human reactions and our friends will agree with us that we should feel this way. It also keeps us stuck in the problem and stuck in “victim-consciousness”. But, what do victims attract? More abuse.

The good news is that we have a choice. It may not be as easy a choice, but it’s the choice that will empower us. The moment we begin to feel ourselves reacting…we can at the moment stop, take a few deep breaths and allow our minds to shift into another perspective. We can then see these “facts” or events from a higher perspective. We can open ourselves to the possibility that there may be something greater behind the current circumstance. There may, in fact, be a blessing in it. Then we can move to a place of TRUST that there is a blessing in this experience and it is making itself known to us.

Current circumstances are temporary. The question is…will we continue to experience these same circumstances over and over? We certainly will if we only look at how “awful” the situation is and bemoan it. If we never look for the blessing within the challenge, or see it from a higher perspective. We are doomed to repeat it.

It’s when we have the courage to take that time, open our heart and our minds and trust that something wonderful is on it’s way…that this situation could be just the thing that will propel our growth into a new plateau of joy and success.

We’ve all heard stories of people who’ve worked at a company for years and relied on the steady paycheck, then suddenly the rug is pulled from underneath them and they’re layed off. Those who focus on how horrible it is, and spend their energy blaming others are doomed to repeat it, or experience anger and frustration their whole life. Then there are those with whom…this same event occurs…and they’ve chosen to see it as a blessing. They’re grateful for it happening because they can now pursue something they’ve always wanted to do.

The same for so many relationships that end. It feels so painful and it’s so easy to blame the other, but those who do are doomed to repeat painful relationship after painful relationship. Those who are grateful for the loss very often soon find someone else…someone so much better suited to them. Or, they simply and truly love the solitude.

But this takes work. It takes practice. Practice makes perfect. As my friend Pete says, “How does one get to Carnegie Hall – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. This is a process that takes work, repetition, dedication, and a desire to create good in one’s life to share with others: To co-create with God! ”

But the rewards are nothing less than transformational. The rewards for putting in the effort to search out the blessing in challenging situation, will change your vibration so that you will begin to attract more joyful, more prosperous, and more loving experiences.

I have a situation in my life right now that I am occasionally tempted to get overwhelmed with fear about. Something that helps me stay focused on the higher picture and assures me that all is working out beautifully and that this will, indeed be such a tremendous blessing to me in the end, is to repeat the following…

“There is a Divine solution to this situation and it is appearing now, harmoniously and for the highest good for all concerned.”