In order to get in a place of showing gratitude, you have to get into a place of mindfulness. I have been working on practicing that a lot for my own life. This year has been full of those moments, because I have a senior in high school!
3 steps for showing gratitude
Be mindful
Be still
Use your senses
Where does showing gratitude begin?
Being mindful and taking in the moments begins with your senses. As a former kindergarten teacher, I realize this sounds so basic. It is something we learn about when we are little bitty. However, when you are sitting in the stands and your eyes are focused on one thing, you see where you are in nature, you block out all other sounds except for the main words your wanting to hear, you hear the sound of the shoes on the gym floor, or the speaker playing their walk up song, you realize what a big part your senses play in being mindful and you see how important it is to focus so that your senses are able to taking it all in.
How do I use my senses?
Being still. You need to be still and be observant. Only take in what you want to. When you are with that person, or in that moment, you can choose what you are taking in. Is it what others are saying, or just the expression on the person’s face that you are focusing on? Is it all the noise, or just their breath? What do you want to see, hear, taste, smell, feel in the moment?
How do I use my other sense?
In case you didn’t know, there is another sense. It is the combination of your heart and mind. One of my favorite verses in the Bible talks about being transformed by the renewing of your mind. You do this by taking every thought captive and lining it up with the word of God and his truths.
Delight in the moment
Life is hard and you may be in a season where you can’t even breathe. You might not have the capacity to take in anything outside of who you are surviving for. Joy and sadness can coexist. A dear friend of mine taught me this. There is a space in your heart where you can still delight in that person, moment, experience, and/or thought. The delight is in your heart and you can find it by renewing your mind, being still, taking it in with your senses, and being grateful.
I can’t
I have watched families celebrate weddings, when a close family member was just diagnosed with cancer. Graduates have been celebrated when a parent was taken from them too early. Homecoming queens have been crowned when they lost their dad weeks before. Years full of moments have gone by while addiction is taking hold. Sixteenth birthdays have been celebrated when a family split is in the near future. You can’t, but God can. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness can not overcome it.
This moment is too hard to delight in
You know your heart. Don’t worry about what others are thinking. Go there, and feel that feeling and know that it is there. It might be a last time. Know it is the last, feel it, recognize it, and delight in it. It comes from within. It might be the first time, delight in it, and know your part in it. Find that good thought, that positive, that truth, and turn your heart and mind to that. Just be.
How do I get to a place of showing gratitude?
It was time to go back to work after spring break and that “oh no” feeling hit. I went for a walk through the woods and was reminded of how powerful it is to show gratitude. It started by reminding myself about being grateful for being able to work, having a great job with good people around me. I turned my mind to remembering that I work close to home, I have a good support system, and I love all things health and exercise. Once I started making myself say what I was grateful for, more and more came to mind. I took the thought captive of “oh man I have to go back to work tomorrow” and changed it to “ I get to work close to home, doing a job that I love, and working with great people”.
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