Day 10: There Is A Calmness And Joy In Gratitude

Hi,

This is Theresa Conte,

And welcome to Day 10 of 30 Days of Gratitude to Inspire and Uplift You.

Today we're going to do something a little different.

Rather than leading you through a guided meditation,

I have an experiment I'd like to offer you.

Something you can do over the next few days on your own.

To learn more,

Stay tuned,

But for now,

As always,

I'd like to share a quote with you related to today's thought to ponder.

This quote comes from Ralph Blum.

He said,

There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude,

A quiet joy.

And now,

A thought to ponder.

Gratitude meditation quiets the mind and restores us to peace and harmony.

Gratitude focuses our attention on the good in our lives,

Which helps us to calm the nervous system,

Strengthen our immunity,

And increase our happiness.

Why not combine the two?

So here's a little experiment.

Spend five minutes at the start of your day in quiet contemplation.

Take a breath and think of what you're grateful for.

Notice a sense of ease as you relax and let the feelings that arise sink in.

Stay with the sensations.

Perhaps you'll feel a sense of peace and quiet joy.

If so,

Stay with them for approximately 10 to 20 seconds.

Then part two of the experiment is to take a few minutes a few times a day to stop,

Look around,

And notice what you're grateful for.

Once again,

Take a breath and breathe in the feelings that arise.

You may notice other feelings,

Like a sense of connection,

Expansion,

And openness.

Whatever they are,

Welcome them.

Then imagine them flowing down into your body like a warm ray of golden sun filling you.

Do the experiment for several days,

Then observe if there's a difference in how you feel and how you greet the day.

I'd love to know how it goes.

Wishing you a most wonderful day.