Gratitude for the Gift of Life

      

By Barbara Berger

Barbara Berger   It is so important to remember that our thoughts and attitudes are determining our experiences, each and every day, And that it’s not so much what is going on in our lives, but how we relate to what is going that determines our life experience. When we understand this, we can work consciously to improve our experiences by choosing the focus of our attention more carefully and more consciously.    One of the best ways to do this is to focus on the things we are grateful for. Why? Quite simply because life is a gift and being grateful for our lives brings us closer to the truth about life. Which feels so good. And yes, it’s as simple as that. Life, this amazing thing we call life, has simply been given to us! And it’s ours! The gift of life! And we’ve done absolutely nothing to deserve it. It’s simply beyond comprehension when we actually try to understand that we have life! That life is ours. That we are alive. Living, breathing, being, right now today, right this very moment. Unfortunately, most of us are so busy running around like chickens without our heads that we rarely, if ever, notice that we have been given the gift of life.    What have we done to deserve this?    What have any of us done to deserve this? To deserve life?    It’s beyond doing, isn’t it?    It’s beyond mind-boggling.    Look, here I am. Look, there you are! Look! There is this. This! Sitting here. This. This! With this body, this mind, these fingers typing away at this keyboard to you whoever or whatever you are that is reading this… it is just beyond comprehension. Isn’t it? And not only that, it’s such an adventure too. Can you see that? Can you feel it? Deep inside you? Can you see the amazing way it’s been set up for us so that everything—and I mean everything—is happening for us. Can you see that now? How it is all unfolding just for you? And that you haven’t done anything whatsoever to deserve it and you don’t have any idea what it is or where it’s going. And you don’t even know what’s going to happen a minute from now even though we like to think we do. But in reality, do we? So it’s always an adventure for us, isn’t it? We’re always in the middle of a great adventure.  And then it changes again… So yes, grateful thoughts, the prayer of gratitude, the song of gratitude, the melody of gratitude, however you find it, however you sing it or express it… go there and do it! It’s your birthright we’re talking about here, the reason why you want to live, the thing that makes your heart sing, the mystery, the magic, the melody, the love, the joy… Gratitude is the open door to all of it. Gratitude! But only you can walk through the door of gratitude for you.    When we understand this, we can also understand why making gratitude lists is simply the world’s fastest and easiest way to pick up our spirits and make ourselves feel better. At any time. So please give it a try. Yes, make gratitude lists. For example, if you wake up feeling blue, well take out a piece of paper and start writing down all the things you are grateful for in your life. Start small or start big. Start with simple things or start with vast things.    Write “I am grateful for” at the top of the page and just get going with whatever comes to mind… with things like: I am alive The sun came up today I have food in my refrigerator I can walk I can see I can hear I can talk I have a nice place to sleep My bed is so comfortable I have a good apartment I have a beautiful window here with trees outside I can hear the birds singing There is heat in my apartment I have running water in the bathroom and a nice shower I have a job to go to I have money in the bank I have clothes to wear I have even more clothes in my closet I have several pairs of shoes to choose between I live in a country where there is peace and prosperity I have a computer and a TV and a cell phone I have people I can talk to I have a nice view from my window The sun is shining today It’s spring and the birds are chirping outside The flowers are lovely There is a beautiful tree over there My dog is wagging his tail I have wonderful children to play with I have a best friend She is so supportive I can call her whenever I need to talk and she listens I have other friends too My friend Anne is so understanding I’m really excited about this book I just discovered I love listening to music My …   Once you get started, well the list just goes on and on. And if you do this on a daily basis, I guarantee it will change the “tone” of your day and your life. Everything will look and feel brighter.  The feeling that your life is your own very special gift will become stronger. And you will discover you have more energy. But again, making gratitude lists is not just something to think about. You have to actually do it—even if it seems a little silly at first and so very simple. It’s the doing that counts. So sit down with a piece of paper and give it a try. And see what happens!   _____   About Barbara Berger American-born Barbara Berger is the best-selling author of “The Road to Power – Fast Food for the Soul” (published in 30 languages), “Are You Happy Now? 10 Ways to Live a Happy Life” (published in 21 languages) and “The Awakening Human Being – A Guide to the Power of Mind”. Barbara's latest book is "Find and Follow Your Inner Compass – Instant Guidance in an Age of Information Overload". Barbara also works as coach and therapist, helping people around the globe come into alignment with their own true power. For more about Barbara see her Web site: http://www.beamteam.com ** Below are titles & links to the beautiful work from Barbara. She is a long time contributor and my dear friend : The Ultimate Self-Empowerment Tool – Your Inner Compass http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2087 The Key to Happiness; Understanding the Way the Mind Works http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2113 Who would you be if you didn’t know your age? http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2147 The Power of Right Seeing http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2177 Review of Barbara Berger’s book Find and Follow Your Inner Compass by Riki Frahmann http://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2184 Are You Here Now? Are You Happy Now? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2247 Discovering Who You Really Are https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2284 Getting in Touch with Your Heart https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2299 Follow Your Passion & Accept the Consequences https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2324 The Power of the Joyful Giver https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2359 You have nothing to deal with but your own thoughts https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2374 Radio show http://www.blogtalkradio.com/starzcast/2018/09/26/natalie-interviews-barbara-berger--author-on-self-empowerment Peace Is Your Nature https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2398 The Power of Contemplating Love https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2423 How Can We Serve? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2452 The Importance of Mind Management https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2472 Focus on the Real – A Way of Dealing with Worry and Catastrophic Thinking https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2499 Nothing External Can Disturb Us https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2527 Just Let Everything Be! https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2548 The Gift of Crisis https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2563 The Power of Asking for Help https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2592&fbclid=IwAR1ZK91thdusdkQTdqu0fHXgarR7Ghv7rmAjR6NypUUfLh2wv1ozLLi-HjU What does it mean to be psychologically mature? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2625 The Meaning of Life https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2644 The Power of Praise & Blessing https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2682 Our Unalienable Rights https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2712 Meeting the Family & Keeping Your Peace of Mind https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2737 Healthy Boundaries – the Secret of Good Relationships https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2758 Healthy Parenting https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2777 Wanting What You Have https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2801 NOW IS THE TIME TO THINK POSITIVE https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2813 A Scientific Prayer to Lift Your Consciousness https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2828 Healthy Self Talk about the Body https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2850 Time Are Changing Aren’t They? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2881 Are You Following Your Inner Compass? https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2904 What Happens When We Don't Listen to Our Inner Compass?  Your Right to Be You https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2961 Doing the Right Thing https://https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=2992 Seeing Behind Impermanence https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3026 Opening Your Heart – A Prayer for the New Year https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3051 Welcome to the World of Starbrow and His Amazing Spiritual Adventures https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3050 Use This Simple, Effective Right Reaction Exercise to Tackle Stressful Moments   https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3084 No Healing Without Feeling https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3102 Happiness Is an Inside Job https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3131 The Power of Joy and Laughter https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3158 Watch Out for Black and White Thinking! https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3173 The Power of Eating Less https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3217 Good Ways to Say No and Set Limits https://mysticlivingtoday.com/view_page.php?ID=3242