[et_pb_section admin_label=\u201dsection\u201d transparent_background=\u201doff\u201d background_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d allow_player_pause=\u201doff\u201d inner_shadow=\u201doff\u201d parallax=\u201doff\u201d parallax_method=\u201doff\u201d padding_mobile=\u201doff\u201d make_fullwidth=\u201doff\u201d use_custom_width=\u201doff\u201d width_unit=\u201don\u201d make_equal=\u201doff\u201d use_custom_gutter=\u201doff\u201d][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201dRow\u201d make_fullwidth=\u201doff\u201d use_custom_width=\u201don\u201d width_unit=\u201doff\u201d custom_width_percent=\u201d75%\u201d use_custom_gutter=\u201doff\u201d padding_mobile=\u201doff\u201d allow_player_pause=\u201doff\u201d parallax=\u201doff\u201d parallax_method=\u201doff\u201d make_equal=\u201doff\u201d column_padding_mobile=\u201don\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d1_3\u2033][et_pb_image admin_label=\u201dImage\u201d src=\u201dhttp:\/\/spiritwithasmile.com\/MS\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/gold-banner-Gratitude.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dGratitude\u201d title_text=\u201dGratitude\u201d show_in_lightbox=\u201doff\u201d url_new_window=\u201doff\u201d animation=\u201dfade_in\u201d sticky=\u201doff\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d force_fullwidth=\u201doff\u201d always_center_on_mobile=\u201don\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d] [\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=\u201d2_3\u2033][et_pb_divider admin_label=\u201dDivider\u201d color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d show_divider=\u201don\u201d divider_style=\u201dsolid\u201d divider_position=\u201dtop\u201d hide_on_mobile=\u201don\u201d] [\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_post_title admin_label=\u201dPost Title\u201d title=\u201don\u201d meta=\u201doff\u201d author=\u201doff\u201d date=\u201doff\u201d categories=\u201don\u201d comments=\u201doff\u201d featured_image=\u201doff\u201d featured_placement=\u201dabove\u201d parallax_effect=\u201don\u201d parallax_method=\u201don\u201d text_orientation=\u201dcenter\u201d text_color=\u201ddark\u201d text_background=\u201doff\u201d text_bg_color=\u201drgba(255,255,255,0.9)\u201d module_bg_color=\u201drgba(255,255,255,0)\u201d title_font=\u201dRock Salt|on|||\u201d title_font_size=\u201d32px\u201d title_text_color=\u201d#990099\u2033 title_line_height=\u201d1.3em\u201d title_all_caps=\u201don\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d] [\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider admin_label=\u201dDivider\u201d color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d show_divider=\u201doff\u201d divider_style=\u201dsolid\u201d divider_position=\u201dtop\u201d hide_on_mobile=\u201don\u201d height=\u201d20\u2033] [\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=\u201drow\u201d make_fullwidth=\u201don\u201d use_custom_width=\u201don\u201d width_unit=\u201don\u201d custom_width_px=\u201d751px\u201d use_custom_gutter=\u201doff\u201d padding_mobile=\u201doff\u201d allow_player_pause=\u201doff\u201d parallax=\u201doff\u201d parallax_method=\u201doff\u201d make_equal=\u201doff\u201d column_padding_mobile=\u201don\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033][et_pb_text admin_label=\u201dText\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dleft\u201d text_font_size=\u201d16\u2033 text_text_color=\u201d#444444\u2033 text_line_height=\u201d1.3em\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d]<\/p>\n
\u201cGratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,and confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.\u201d\u00a0<\/em>~ Melody Beattie<\/p>\n An attitude of gratitude tunes us in to the good things that happen. It\u2019s impossible to feel grateful and upset or angry at the same time.\u00a0 So, first of all, it feels good. Being grateful creates the attitude of \u201cI have\u201d rather than \u201cI don\u2019t have,\u201d and that\u2019s the consciousness that perpetuates more good things happening. The more we experience this consciousness, the more it becomes a habit. We begin to expect it, and then we see it.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb admin_label=\u201dBlurb\u201d title=\u201dSPIRITUAL PRACTICES\u201d url_new_window=\u201doff\u201d use_icon=\u201doff\u201d icon_color=\u201d#000066\u2033 use_circle=\u201doff\u201d circle_color=\u201d#000066\u2033 use_circle_border=\u201doff\u201d circle_border_color=\u201d#000066\u2033 icon_placement=\u201dtop\u201d animation=\u201dtop\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dcenter\u201d use_icon_font_size=\u201doff\u201d use_border_color=\u201doff\u201d border_color=\u201d#ffffff\u201d border_style=\u201dsolid\u201d header_font_size=\u201d20\u2033 header_text_color=\u201d#990099\u2033 custom_margin=\u201d40px|||\u201d] [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=\u201dText\u201d background_layout=\u201dlight\u201d text_orientation=\u201dleft\u201d text_font_size=\u201d16\u2033 text_text_color=\u201d#444444\u2033 use_border_color=\u201don\u201d border_color=\u201d#cccccc\u201d border_style=\u201doutset\u201d max_width=\u201d850px\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.5em\u201d border_width=\u201d6px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d40px|40px|40px|40px\u201d]<\/p>\n Practice Gratitude:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Either verbally or on paper, recall the things that happened yesterday that you are grateful for. Be grateful for the big and small things \u2013 even the lessons and challenges.<\/span> What good might come from those challenges?<\/span><\/p>\n Actively Appreciate Everything:<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n As you go through your day, take a moment to appreciate what\u2019s around you.\u00a0 Find something \u2013 the beautiful sky, the grass, the flowers, even the powerful storm or giant raindrops.\u00a0 Allow this sense of appreciation to flow into more and more things.\u00a0 As you drive or walk, appreciate the drivers around you and the traffic lights that are there to keep you safe. \u00a0Find something to appreciate every chance you get.<\/span><\/p>\n Smartphone Gratitude:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n These days, every smartphone has a \u201cNote Pad\u201d app.\u00a0 Start a \u201cGratitude\u201d page and as you go through the day, something wonderful will happen to you.\u00a0 Write it in your gratitude page.<\/span> Then, in the morning before breakfast, review the previous day\u2019s gratitude page, erase it, and start anew. <\/span>If you don\u2019t have a smartphone, that\u2019s something else to be grateful for.\u00a0 A little notebook and pencil works just as well.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s ALWAYS plenty to be thankful for, and for more reminders, enjoy this classic <\/a><\/strong><\/span>in our Serendipity section by Brother David Steindl-Rast.<\/p>\n Daily Gratitude Session:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n We start our spiritual practices each day reflecting on the things we\u2019re grateful for.\u00a0 Usually, we start with what\u2019s happened since the last time we did a gratitude session.\u00a0 And, most of the time, that means yesterday.<\/span><\/p>\n Gratitude Journal:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n Each day, write three things, people, or events you feel grateful for. The more you can actually feel it, the better it is, and the better off you\u2019ll be. \u00a0You can download a\u00a0FREE Gratitude Journal<\/strong>\u00a0(click here<\/u>)<\/strong>,<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0with full instructions and suggestions, courtesy of\u00a0Dr. Dennis Merritt Jones<\/u>.<\/span><\/p>\n