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LIVING BY DESIGN NEWSLETTER
by Leslie Karen Sann, MA, LCPC
V2, #10
November 15, 2002
IN THIS ISSUE
Cultivating Gratitude
Quotes
Practically Speaking
Wonder Questions
Readers Share
Their Wins
CULTIVATING
GRATITUDE
Gratitude is a way of being in which we are willing
to see the blessing in everything that occurs in life. The practice of
gratitude is a way to open our hearts to life and find the gifts that are
here for us.
Many of us have the process backwards. We wait to
see if there is something to be grateful for before we choose to be
grateful. What we are doing is waiting to see if life will show up the way
we want it so that we can appreciate life doing it our way.
True gratitude is about embracing life the way it
is, taking whatever is in our lives and finding the gift, that for which
we are grateful. To be grateful for what we have in the moment and who we
are in the moment; this is a shift that will transform our lives.
It's truly amazing that many of us aren't aware of
what is wonderful in our lives. We often need to train ourselves to be
grateful. A way to cultivate awareness and grow in any experience is to
pay attention. And a way to concretely pay attention is to track our
awareness, to write down what we are grateful for.
Your willingness to track at least three 'gratitudes'
daily will serve you tremendously. You may find that during the time you
are going for your goals and you hit some of that predictable disturbance
as you exit your comfort zone, that it is empowering to look at those
things you are grateful for in the past few weeks. You may be surprised as
to how this fuels you and gives you fortitude to proceed.
Gratitude satisfies. When we are fulfilled there is
a natural consequence of centeredness and empowerment. It is then easier
to take action toward our goals, to nurture ourselves and to genuinely
make a contribution to others.
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QUOTES:
"To affect the quality of the day; that is
the art of life."
~ Henry
David Thoreau ~
"Everything happens for me, not to
me."
~ Byron Katie ~
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PRACTICALLY SPEAKING:
- Ask yourself periodically throughout the day,
"What can I be grateful for?"
- Keep a gratitude journal, and do not close the
book until you have written at least three (Ičve chosen to make it
five) 'gratitudes'.
- Make a list of the people, things and qualities
in your life for which you are grateful. It might surprise you to see
all of the abundance you have in your life.
- Appreciate yourself. When was the last time you
looked in the mirror and told yourself "I love you"? Go to
the mirror and say aloud, "Thank you , ME!"
- Do yourself a favor and let at least three people
know how much you are grateful for their presence in your life. Make
this your Thanksgiving gift to you.
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WONDER QUESTIONS:
First a Story...
There are two small
children coloring with crayons. One of them reaches over to the pile of
crayons the other child is using and breaks them all in half. The one who
has had her crayons broken cries out, "Oh goodie, more crayons!"
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Are you willing to embrace the circumstances of
your life as a gift, no matter how the package is wrapped?
- Where in your life can you re-frame what you
thought was broken into a blessing of abundance through the action of
gratitude?
- Is there something you've been complaining about
that you can begin to notice is really a gift?
- Where in your life has adversity moved you in a
direction that, upon reflection, you see was to your benefit?
- Are you willing to be the predominant creative
force in your life?
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READERS
SHARE THEIR WINS
EXPANDING YOUR COMFORT ZONE http://www.living-bydesign.com/V2_9.htm
I think you have your finger on the pulse of what is
happening for many of us now--learning to live in the unknown. For me,
trying to get back into my comfort zone now is like trying to cram myself
into a thimble instead of expanding with the entire universe. Yet I still
often go for the thimble when I feel afraid.
I love this question: Am I willing to be the
predominant creative force in my life? YES. I am.
Thanks for your wonderful contribution. -G.N.
BEING TRUE TO YOU
http://www.living-bydesign.com/V2_3.htm
I just had that a great opportunity to read some of
your "Living by Design". WOW!!!!!!! What a wisdom. I especially
enjoyed reading about honoring myself and being true to me. I sometimes
think I need to do me according to someone else's plans for me. I am so
blessed to find your letters because they just talk to me about exactly
what I need to hear. Please do not stop this wonderful, uplifting work. -
T.S.
WHEN LIFE DOES WHAT LIFE DOES
http://www.living-bydesign.com/V2_7.htm
How positive and uplifting! I agree that bad luck can
be good luck depending on how you look at a situation and what you do with
it. Keep the inspiration coming. - C.C.
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COPYRIGHT/CONTACT INFO/REPRINT PERMISSION
c Copyright 2002 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 2002 by Leslie Karen Sann,
Living by Design.All rights reserved.
Web site. http://www.living-bydesign.com
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