GO GRATITUDE Gratitude is a powerful spiritual tool. It opens your heart and increases your capacity to receive gifts from the universe. The Law of Attraction tells us what you focus your attention and energy on expands.
Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. Fuel your zest for life by staying mindful of the bounty you experience each day. Sit down and make a gratitude list. Here is mine for today. Add a comment on this post and tell me what you are grateful for today.
1. Charlie My Amazing Therapy Dog 2. My son, Henry Zane is thriving living with my parents in Kimball, Nebraska 3. 12-Step Meetings and my awesome new sponsor 4. Meditation and prayer 5. Melanie Peters for the time and energy she gives as our Community Manager and site administrator.
If you have read or listened to 29 Gifts, you know I struggle with mental health challenges. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia have been my companions since I was a young child. I have been clinically diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depression and Borderline Personality Disorder. I am also an addict/alcoholic in recovery. I live with Multiple Sclerosis and Fibromyalgia, so physical pain, fatigue, cognitive problems and other disturbing symptoms hound me.
I had my first panic attack when I was eight. I was in the back seat of our old Suburban with my two sisters. My dad was driving us into the Rocky Mountains for a vacation in Estes Park, Colorado. It was snowing and it was dark out. The only thing I could see was the blowing white flakes and the steep drop off the side of the mountain on my left side. I started to cry frantically and hyperventilate. My heart raced and pounded, I started to sweat and I felt crippled.
I still have panic attacks, but I have learned how to redirect my thinking toward more positive patterns. I breathe deep, belly breaths and focus on the feeling of unconditional love.
I have to work hard to stay sane. I need therapy, medications, group therapy or 12-step meetings and lots of supportive friends and family. I also need creativity flowing, yoga, walking and eating healthy.
I try to resist the urge to throw myself a pity party when I am triggered. Setting up camp in anger, resentment or fear always leads to emotional unrest. Instead, I focus on gratitude, love, abundance, serenity and joy.
What are you grateful for? Comment on this post and tell me one or more things you are thankful for today.
It is easy to be grateful with so many wonderful people in my life. :) Five things I am grateful for are: freedom, opportunities for education, books, chocolate cheesecake, and the ability to watch the sun rise and set each day.
