Pausing for Gratitude

Whatever you are waiting for--peace of mind, contentment, grace, the inner awareness of Simple Abundance--it will surely come, but only when you are ready to receive it with an open and grateful heart.  --Sarah Ban Breathnach

One way to make sure stress and other challenges don't steal your happiness is to pause for gratitude moments. I talked a little abut that in a post about hygge earlier this month. Even during a day that seemed all wrong, you can probably find a few things to be grateful for and that can change everything.

Feeling grateful becomes a spiritual practice when we can truly express gratitude even when our lives are not going well. This is a far more difficult time to give thanks or express appreciation. It's actually a deep, spiritual decision of how you want to relate to life. I want my attitude toward life to be independent of the inevitable ups and downs. --Rachel Harris, Ph.D

Use Jasmine Essential Oil to Create Gratitude

Jasmine can be used to clear away any thoughts and feelings that might get in the way of feeling grateful. After putting a drop or two in your hands, rub them together, cup your hands over your face and breathe it in deeply for a minute or two.

First, imagine that the jasmine is filling the space in your hands and absorbing everything that needs to heal in order for you to experience joy and gratitude. Then, close your eyes and sit quietly and ask for scenes and images to remind you of the abundance you already have in your life. Mentally give thanks for each image or scene that presents itself.

Once you have experienced this process a few times, it may get easier to do it from memory, even when you don't have your jasmine oil with you. If you can do that, then you can create a moment of gratitude anytime you notice stress or its results.

Tomorrow, we'll take a look at how to bring the energy of love to your moments of stress. See you then!

Love, Jeanine