We are having our Unity North Annual Meeting this Sunday after the church service, and we have had a year of abundant blessings. So, I gave my Sunday Lesson that title, but since then, more agencies have been shuttered and people released from their jobs in our federal government. A greater ripple effect is starting to take place. More suffering is occurring daily. How do we keep from feeling overwhelmed, let alone grateful for our blessings?
In the class I’m teaching now, based on the book called We Were Made for These Times, there are a number of mindfulness exercises shared in order to stay focused on the present moment. One simple centering exercise is to feel yourself settling into the home inside of you: the place of strength and wisdom and refuge in any storm. It is helpful to repeat inwardly: “I have arrived. I am home.” “Arrived” with the in-breath. “Home” with the out-breath. You may want to practice this as you sit in traffic or wait in line or drink your tea. It brings a deeper sense of calm and peace.
From a more peaceful place inside, we can tap into our gratitude. We can take a few moments and think of five to ten things we feel grateful for. In doing so, it causes a mental and emotional shift to take place. One can feel deeper love and joy, a sense of comfort and peace. When we focus on gratitude, we activate an amazing magnet for our good.
We are surrounded and enfolded in abundant blessings. Let us be more mindful of them, even in the midst of personal and collective challenges.
Love and blessings,
Rev. Kathy