{"id":110,"date":"2021-08-24T22:35:24","date_gmt":"2021-08-24T22:35:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/practicalspiritualresiliency.org\/?page_id=110"},"modified":"2021-08-24T22:58:42","modified_gmt":"2021-08-24T22:58:42","slug":"movement-nine-gratitude","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/practicalspiritualresiliency.org\/?page_id=110","title":{"rendered":"Movement Nine: Gratitude"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Movement Nine: Gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A beautiful sunset, a melody, the smell of flowers, a gentle breeze ruffling your hair \u2013 the universe is full of beauty and goodness. However, as we go about our lives it can be easy to miss the beauty as we focus on the struggles and difficulties. Religious and spiritual traditions from around the world, and now science too, tell us that we should pause and take time for gratitude first. New studies are showing that doing so actually rewires our brains to experience more beauty and goodness \u2013 the act of noticing it helps us see more of it. No matter how much struggle or tragedy there is in this world, as long as there is life there will also be beauty. Let us root ourselves in gratitude for this gift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFinding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find<\/em>.\u201d – Terry Tempest Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction<\/em>.\u201d – Rachel Carson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change<\/em>.\u201d – The Buddha<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness \u2013 it\u2019s right in front of me if I\u2019m paying attention and practicing gratitude.\u201d<\/em> – <\/strong>Brene Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018Thank you\u2019 is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>\u2013 Alice Walker<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Exercises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise One: Greet Each Day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the book Braiding Sweetgrass, <\/em>Robin Wall Kimmerer describes her father\u2019s practice of pouring some coffee out on the earth to greet each day and express gratitude. This type of practice, taking some time first thing in the day to express simple gratitude for the gift of life and another day, can root you in those feelings for the rest of your day. Try finding a way to greet the day that is right for you. Perhaps a sun salutation<\/a>, a prayer<\/a>, reciting a poem<\/a>, or simply going to a window and bowing to the world with reverence. Try it for a week and see how it feels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise Two: A Gratitude Journal<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s become a bit of a clich\u00e9, but keeping a gratitude journal really can change your outlook on life. Any old journal will do, and there\u2019s no one right way to do it. The important thing is to take a little time at the end of the day to reflect on what you\u2019re grateful for. Just jot down a list, or write a haiku, or anything in between. Try it for at least one week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise Three: Write a Thank You Note<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expressing our gratitude spreads the joy around. Write a simple thank you note (it doesn\u2019t have to be fancy, really!) to someone who you are grateful for. Perhaps they did some kindness for you, or you\u2019re just really glad they are such a cool friend, perhaps they serve your community or work for a cause you care about, or perhaps they created a work of art that means a lot to you. Just tell them why you appreciate them and what they or their work have meant to you. Spread some gratitude goodness around!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practical Exercises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise Four: Make a Gift<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create a little more beauty and goodness in the world yourself, by making some kind of gift to the world. Bring cookies to a neighbor, or put out a bird feeder, bring dinner to someone in need, or make a donation to an organization helping others. It can even be as simple as letting someone go ahead of you in line \u2013 the world needs more kindnesses of all shapes and sizes. Be a gift to someone else, a reason for another to be grateful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exercise Five: Seek Out and Support Beauty<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Artists and creators are actively bringing more beauty and wonder into the world. Take some time to seek it out \u2013 go to an art museum or gallery, a concert, or a show. Increasingly, art is being made available online as well, so you don\u2019t even have to leave home to find it. Support art and artists, even if all you can afford is a postcard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video: How Beauty Can Save Us<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              How Gratitude Changes You and Your Brain<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              <\/em>What Science Reveals About Gratitude\u2019s Impact on the Brain<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              <\/em>The Subversive Power of Gratitude<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Website: Gratefulness.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Books:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Finding Beauty in a Broken World <\/em>by Terry Tempest Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Active Hope <\/em>by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflection Questions:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Have you ever been just stopped in your tracks by the beauty, mystery, wonder, and awe of the universe? When have you seen or experienced something that continued to stay with you afterward? What experiences have truly moved you?<\/li>
  2. Do you find it easy and natural to keep an \u201cattitude of gratitude\u201d, or do you need to work at it? What helps you reorient toward gratitude, beauty, and abundance?<\/li>
  3. What is one thing that you are most grateful for now, in your current stage of life? How has gratitude changed for you as you have aged? Are you grateful for different things now than when you were younger?<\/li>
  4. Do you notice practicing gratitude changing the way you approach life? How?<\/li>
  5. How can we put more beauty and goodness into the world? How much beauty and goodness is inherent and present even in horrible circumstances? Is beauty and goodness a human creation or an inherent part of the universe?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Next: Movement Ten<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Program Menu<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Movement Nine: Gratitude A beautiful sunset, a melody, the smell of flowers, a gentle breeze ruffling your hair \u2013 the universe is full of beauty and goodness. However, as we go about our lives it can be easy to miss the beauty as we focus on the struggles and difficulties. Religious and spiritual traditions from … <\/p>\n

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