What do you associate with the word ‘gratitude’ ?
I know in childhood that it can often be associated with lots of ‘shoulds’ or heavy inuendos:
“You should be grateful I did x, y, z for you”, “I worked my fingers to the bone to get you into college”, “It hasn’t been easy for me” ….
It usually meant that you were being emotionally blackmailed into doing something your parents wanted you to do. It can feel heavy, uncomfortable and obligatory.
Being grateful becomes associated with paying back dues, about somebody having ‘one over’ on you, with feeling judged, oppressed and heavy.
Phew! What a legacy
I would be willing to bet that there are quite a few of people in the world who have been in exactly the same boat at some time or other. It can often lead to a life of not receiving, as you learn to live from resistance and fear.
Receiving could mean, albeit subconsciously, that you would be obliged to ‘pay back’ at some point and maybe you didn’t want to be ‘pinned down’ by this controlling behaviour, as it was then perceived. It can lead to mental, emotional and physical depletion over time and eventually even result in illness or serious disease.
The practice of reflective awareness can really turn all of this around
In spiritual meditation you go underneath all of these feelings and conditioned behaviours to reveal and experience the true and unconditional generosity of spirit. From this place of pure and abundant joy, we can only associate the word ‘Gratitude’ with an outpouring of love and joyful praise, a celebration of the awesome abundance in and around us.
It is an acknowledging of the Great Source of being-ness that has provided us with so much joy and so many joyful moments both inside and out. It represents a real shift from a heavy feeling of oppression and control to a light, easy outflow of appreciation and an open, free and singing heart.
From this place you can allow yourself to receive openly and to give openly and to be well and happy
The first is a corruption of the second.
It is the result of an arrogant ego trying to take control and be the master, to lord it over others and it takes us away from our true nature, separating us from what is real. The effect is often loneliness, depression, alienation and illness ….
The second represents a return to our true nature
It is a return to our free, spontaneous, joyful and generous self, our bright and playful soul. When we are connected to the ever-flowing breath of life, the ever abundant Source, being grateful is easy, spontaneous, nurturing and feels oh-h-h so right.
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Our Telegram community ‘Truly Transformational’ is full of resources for finding your true self, letting go of attachment to ego and moving towards a life of true happiness, peace, clarity and well being.
“Since I joined the group, I have learned how to slow my thoughts through simple breathing techniques, and then connect my breathing to my heart. I’ve learned how to quieten my mind enough to hear and listen to my heart. I’ve learned that I am enough, and I have always been enough, I am loved, and I have always been loved and am love. I have always been… I had just forgotten.
Now I am learning to remember. The best thing of all that I have learned, is that I always have a choice. I can choose whatever I like. I am learning to become an observer of my thoughts and reactions, which is enabling me to realize that there are other options, other thoughts to think… which create other feelings… I can choose to feel happy whenever I wish, no matter what I might have previously automatically thought.
I love this feeling – it feels like being free… to be me… to be happy and loved… and to love x Joy, much love and gratitude to you… Today, I am remembering, and my wish is that I remember this every single day of my life xxx” Liz Fleming
