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LIVING BY DESIGN NEWSLETTER
by Leslie Karen Sann, MA, LCPC
V1, #4
November 20, 2001
IN THIS ISSUE
Gratitude - Bringing in the Harvest
Quotes
Practically Speaking
Wonder Questions
Write to Me
GRATITUDE - BRINGING IN THE HARVEST
Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all the blessings that have come our way. As
we immerse ourselves in this year's holiday, let us pause to truly appreciate the bounty
that already is.
How we feel about life depends on where we place our attention. Have you ever noticed
that every time you are given a rose it is covered with thorns. Do you say to the giver, "why are
you giving me this stick with thorns on it?". Of course not - you admire the beauty of the rose.
Even if you prick yourself it never seems to hurt as you are involved in appreciating the rose and
the person who gave it to you.
Life is like that.
There are thorns in lots of things we are given in life.
What do YOU focus on - the thorns or
the gift?
This is our choice - to appreciate or depreciate the experience we are having. When we
depreciate something (complain, not good, fast, big enough, whine, resent) something, it loses
value. When we appreciate (be grateful, celebrate, enjoy), it GAINS in value.
It's that simple.
We have much to be grateful for, yet part of the human condition is to take for granted that
which is good. It is actually biological. Our brain filters out anything that is not hurtful, fearful
or physically moving. This is part of a survival mechanism to help us identify danger. This
function contributes to filtering out the good things we have almost as soon as we get them.
What to do?
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, practice appreciating what you have. Look for the
beauty, gifts, blessings in every moment. Whatever happens have the attitude
that it is perfect, even if you don't know why . . . YET. There is a blessing in everything. Look for it and you will find it.
And if you can't as yet see it, sit back and wait for it to show up - it will.
Be grateful not only for what you perceive as the good things, but for the gifts that may not
be so obvious. Start with the outstanding things, then the good, then the mundane, then the not
so good, then the very not so good, then the terrible.
Why the terrible? Well . . .
- you'll embrace them with feelings of gratitude and gratitude feels good
- the so called terrible things are part of your life so assume there is
a reason
- gratitude will open you up to discover
what gift is there for you
This includes paying attention for the lessons of learning and growth. Shift your focus from
the external circumstances to the learning you are involved in. Place your focus on the
inner growth which is steady and consistent rather than on the outer environment which
is so intangible, inconsistent and uncertain.
Instead of seeing the challenges of life as problems, practice seeing each situation as a
gift or blessing in disguise. Then your attitude will shift to one of enthusiasm:
"What new learning is in store for me now?"
"What opportunity is here for me to receive?"
Be in charge of where you put your focus. Train yourself to see that which is positive right NOW.
If you can't find something positive, look again. What are you taking for granted. If you can't
find anything, hold your breath, within a few minutes you'll really appreciate breathing : )
Gratitude is a process, not a result. If you think you might be grateful tomorrow, be grateful right
now. Cultivate gratitude no matter what is going on. The more you express your gratitude, the
more you will discover you are living an abundant life.
The process of gratitude opens us up to receive.
Think about it. Whom do you prefer to give - to those who find fault with every little detail - or
to people who appreciate your gifts? The Universe probably thinks as you do:
Let's GIVE to the GRATEFUL. And so it does.
Discover for yourself how POWERFUL the action of CHOOSING gratitude can be.
Much Love,
Leslie
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QUOTES:
"i thank You God for this most amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes"
~ e e cummings ~
"If the only prayer you say in your life is 'thank you' that would suffice."
~ Meister Eckhart ~
"Make the most of every sense; glory in all of the pleasures and beauty which the world
reveals to you"
~ Helen Keller ~
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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
STEP ONE:
Make a list of the people, things and qualities in your life for which you are grateful. It may
surprise you to see all of the abundance you already have.
STEP TWO:
It is one thing to experience gratitude. It is yet another to express it. It
is nice to think about how kind someone has been, it is a whole other thing
to actually sit down and write a thank you note.
Find creative ways to express your thanks and to acknowledge and appreciate those around
you. Some ideas:
- send letters of appreciation to friends and family
- put little notes on the seats of your fellow employees
- take a friend or an employee to lunch
- send flowers to a friend
- bring goodies to the volunteers at the Red Cross,
your fire station
- leave cookies in your post box for your letter carrier
Appreciate yourself. Yes, YOU. When was the last time
you looked in the mirror and told yourself "I love you"?
- buy yourself some flowers
- take a walk in nature
- get a massage
- take a nap
- go to a movie
Find ways to give back for all you've been given by saying thank you to the Universe for the abundance
in your life. Some ideas:
- put money in a donation bin
- give clothes, money, food to the needy
- put money in someone's parking meter
- leave money for someone to find in a pay phone
- pay the toll of the car behind you
- visit a nursing home, just to visit and chat
- leave a larger than usual tip for the wait person
- buy the homeless guy on the corner a sandwich
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WONDER QUESTIONS:
- What are you grateful for?
- What about that makes you grateful?
- Who or what could you acknowledge more fully?
(Including yourself is okay.)
- Let yourself think of a situation that is disturbing.
Ask yourself: "What am I learning or discovering as a
result of this situation?" Now wonder: "Hmmmm, if I
could be grateful for this, for what else might I be
grateful"?
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WRITE TO ME!
I am interested in your successes! Write to me and share wins you have experienced
using any of the techniques I have shared.
Perhaps you have a story about how gratitude transformed a challenge into a blessing, or
how the simple act of acceptance has brought peace more present in your life.
Tell me which strategies have worked and what occurred. Send your story or any
questions you may have to me at:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
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COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
c Copyright 2001 by Leslie Karen Sann, Living by Design
Visit this link for contact information:
leslie@living-bydesign.com
Reprint permission granted in part or whole when the following credit appears in full:
Copyright 2001 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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