Ask: Is it helpful to have a gratitude practice?

            This seems an appropriate time (for our foreign friends, yesterday was Thanksgiving in the US) to answer a question I often get, “Is it useful to have a gratitude practice?”

Like any other positive feeling, gratitude is especially nice when it arises spontaneously. But a gratitude practice of some sort—like making a list of the things for which you are grateful and looking at it each day or listing at the end of the day what you are grateful for about that day—can be a way to counteract a negative mindset or to center one that has been distracted with busy-ness for much of the day.

The experience of the singular consciousness behind all that appears—what most mean by God—is oneness and love. This is the “truth” of consciousness. Many who take an aspirational approach to spirituality feel that a positive attitude aligns with this, and when it does not arise naturally, they seek to bring it about to line themselves up with what they think of as God. Whatever the reason, the value of positive-thinking practices is that they make you feel better. They change the chemicals in your brain and the body feels good. In fact, it would be more honest to say “go to church, pray, meditate, practice A Course in Miracles” etc. because it makes you feel better rather than that you “should” because God wants you to or to align yourself with God.

(When I say that I cannot teach enlightenment, I can only help you mitigate the pain of ego, what I mean is that I can teach you practices that make you feel better.)

Another view is to see your spiritual practice—and anything else you feel moved to do—as an expression of the singular consciousness behind appearances. You will do what you are moved to do. So, if a gratitude practice arises organically for you, it will make you feel better, and no doubt you will feel grateful for that, too!

 >>>> 

If you have a question the answer to which you feel may be helpful to others, send it to Liz@acimmentor.com and indicate that you want it answered in this newsletter/blog.

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