Hi,
This is Theresa Conte and welcome to Day 15 of 30 Days of Gratitude to Inspire and Uplift You.
I am so glad to be here with you today and thanks so much for joining me.
Today I'd like to share a quote from Dennis Waitley.
He said,
Happiness cannot be traveled to,
Owned,
Worn,
Or consumed.
Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love,
Grace,
And gratitude.
And now,
A thought to ponder.
Today's quote reminds me of the story about a man who goes looking for gold,
Searching high and low,
Yet not finding it anywhere.
Until that is,
He returns home,
Exhausted,
And finds it buried in his own backyard.
Perhaps you've heard the story.
We all have gifts,
Talents,
And abilities to share,
Though we might not always acknowledge them.
Today,
I'd like to take you on a journey to find the gold that resides within you.
If you're in a safe and private environment,
I invite you to sit or lie down in a comfortable position.
If you're not in a safe space at the moment,
Then that's fine.
Just listen and do the practice when it's safe to close your eyes.
So when you're ready,
Take a breath and feel the gentle rise and fall of your chest or abdomen as you inhale and exhale.
You may also feel the air at the tip of your nostrils as you breathe out.
Do whichever one that you feel most comfortable with.
Feel your body relax as you take a couple of more breaths and let go of the day's activities coming into the present moment.
Now,
Imagine yourself someplace beautiful.
It could be someplace you've been before,
Perhaps someplace you'd like to go,
Or someplace you create within your mind's eye.
Perhaps relaxing somewhere in nature,
Resting against a tree.
Wherever it is,
Feel yourself completely comfortable,
Safe,
And at home.
Now let's go on a little journey.
As you relax in this beautiful environment,
Bring to mind something you've accomplished that you feel happy,
Pleased,
And proud about.
Not from a sense of ego or self-aggrandizement,
But just as a sense of appreciation for yourself,
Just as you would appreciate someone else.
Watch the experience as it plays out like a movie in your mind's eye,
And take note of the skills it took to accomplish this particular act.
How did what you accomplished benefit you or someone else's life?
Perhaps it was a skill that took agency or required creative ability,
Mastering a skill of some sort,
An act of kindness,
Or another talent.
Take breath and let the sense of appreciation for what you've accomplished fill you,
Knowing that this skill,
This talent,
Is your inner gold.
Let yourself bathe in the feelings of love,
Grace,
And gratitude for yourself,
For life,
For the people involved if there are any in this particular experience,
And for the environment.
If contrary thoughts or images come up,
Just acknowledge them and let them go.
We all have mixed experiences,
And it's all okay.
Just bring your attention back to the experience,
Noticing the sense of peace,
Perhaps,
Or joy,
Or fulfillment as you watch the scene in your mind's eye and the blessings it provided for yourself or someone else.
When that feels complete,
Let it go,
And now think of another time,
Perhaps another situation that required the same or other talents and skills.
Where were you?
What were you doing?
And who were you with,
If anyone?
Perhaps you did something that improved yours or another's life in some way.
It could be something simple,
Like helping someone across the street,
Solving a problem,
Cooking an evening meal that nourished yourself and or others,
Or playing music to enlighten and entertain someone or even a group.
What skills did it take to accomplish this experience?
What did you do to prepare for it?
Notice how you feel as you watch the scene unfold and take in the good feelings that arise.
You're deserving of your own love and kindness.
Perhaps put your hand on your heart as you breathe in the sense of appreciation for who you are,
A beautiful,
Talented being,
In spite of anything else you may have done that you may have contrary feelings about that's all a part of life.
When you're ready,
Open your eyes,
Come back to the present moment,
Perhaps stretch a bit and take another breath.
Acknowledging our gifts,
Talents,
And abilities is a way to appreciate ourselves just as we would another.
Again,
Not out of ego or self-aggrandizement,
But as a way that what we do and say has value and contributes to the world.
Love,
Grace,
And gratitude are qualities that enrich our lives.
Perhaps we simply need to look within to find them rather than searching outside of ourselves.
As an evening practice,
If you like,
Take a breath at the end of the day and note the ways you expressed or received grace,
Love,
And gratitude,
Then bathe in the beautiful feelings as you drift off to sleep.
Wishing you a most wonderful day.
