MaxIMIze - Being Thankful

As I sit at my home desk looking out over a damp street, thankful for the rain that dampness means, I wonder how many people are complaining about the rain instead of being thankful for it.

How many of us complain about things that change our plans, our world, our lives, instead of finding the good in these things - hard as that can be sometimes - and approaching them from a place of gratitude instead of impatience or anger?

Yes, there are things that truly suck - loss of a loved one or dealing with a potentially deadly disease for example. Many of us, however, complain about things that, in the long run, really don't matter. Yes, I know it is annoying, even maddening right now, whatever it is in your life. But - will it matter five years, one year, six months, a week from now? Will it matter tomorrow even, or a few hours from now? I mean really truly matter in the grand scheme of things?

The next question I have is: what energy is your reaction to this thing putting out in the world? Will the energy generated by your reaction help you or hurt you in the long run?

The last question I have is: why are you reacting negatively to this thing, whatever it is? What fears is it stirring up in you that you need to face and overcome? Is it reminding you of an incident in the past that turned out badly?

Then we flip this all on its head and change the focus to what can you find to be thankful about in this situation? What good can come from it, even if the worst of the worst happens?

Find the kernel of good and focus on it, and watch your attitude go from complaining to proclaiming, or at least accepting and moving through to the other side.

If you need an example of this, look at what former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is going through in his life right now and how he is handling his situation.

Next week, we'll discuss Sharing Thy Bounty - until then, Namaste!

MaXIMIze - Gratitude

We are now in the month of November, which means the holidays of Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving are coming in the States this month. For me, November is a the perfect month to pause and reflect on all we have to be grateful for before the material craziness that has seemingly come to symbolize the holiday season is upon us.

I sat on my balcony moments ago, writing this post in longhand (as I always do), thankful for the rain coming down right now. I looked across the parking lot and saw my new car sitting in its covered space, and am thankful for having the financial resources to buy a new - at least new-to-me - car this fall. I am grateful that am willing and able to do the work needed to move from financial disaster to financial solvency and start this holiday season debt-free except to myself.

I am thankful that I have a job I enjoy, a loving committed relationship with a great guy, and that I am in good physical and spiritual health.

I am grateful that I live in a place where I can watch the white breasted nuthatches in the tree just beyond my balcony, and enjoy the beauty of nature in the park just beyond the parking lot of the complex I live in.

I am thankful for you, my faithful readers, and for those of you new to this blog.

Right here, right now, my life is grand - and I am deeply grateful for this moment.

My challenge to you this month is to find something every day to be grateful for and take a moment to breathe deeply in that thankful feeling.

If you wish to share your daily bits of gratitude, feel free to post them on my MaXIMIze page on Facebook, where I will post the same challenge and share mine!

Until next time, Namaste!