For the Love of Gratitude

I grew up in Southeast Texas in Baptist country. My grandparents would come pick me up every Sunday and take me to Sunday School. This is where I first learned about gratitude. With the life I lived, it wasn’t so easy to connect to, much less understand.

In middle school, I became very uncomfortable in the church. I didn’t really know why other than my body|mind|spirit telling me ‘no, don’t go there.’ So I stopped. Looking back, this is one of the first places I felt empowered in my life, made a decision, and no one stopped me.

Much later in life, I began to study Metta, a loving kindness practice and the Art of Compassion. I spent a number of years meditating, especially in my graduate program where it was interwoven. The deeper I went into meditation, the more treachorous it became for me. This is where I became astutely aware of the trauma being held in my psyche and body.

This isn’t a story about my trauma though. It’s a story of gratitude. I’m laying the ground work here, because I want you to know that I wasn’t and am still not always grateful. In fact, I would say it has been quite the journey to cultivate a gratitude practice, which now I would say, makes it all that much richer.

After graduate school, I moved to California and began working with a Shaman. He had a very eloquent and poetic manner about him and he, alongside strong plant spirit medicine allies, helped me implement and cultivate a disciplined gratitude practice. This practice has forged and continues to support me daily.

Believe it not, gratitude doesn’t have to be felt or even believed at first. When I first started practicing, I went to my teacher and expressed concern because I really didn’t have anything that I felt grateful for. I also felt uncomfortable with the idea of lying or falsifying a practice. My teacher assured me that it was about the practice, not the feeling. The feeling (or connection) would come later. So I chose to believe him and by merely being validated in my concern, I was able to connect with simple things to be grateful for: the Sun, the color green, the wispy clouds in the sky... At first I started with things outside of myself, because I definitely wasn’t grateful for anything inside!

Over time I became more genuinely grateful and I have to say, this practice really changed my life. It helped me begin to see things more positively and to take more intentional time to appreciate myself and my surroundings every day. It gave me a moment of peace, allowed me to pause, to reflect, and to honor where and how I was doing in the moment.

I’ve shared the below information in multiple places. It really is such a beneficial practice and I highly recommend it.

Robert Emmons has done a great deal of research demonstrating that a simple gratitude practice has huge health and happiness benefits. Research shows that a small practice of listing 5 things you’re grateful for once a week leads to big health and happiness benefits. Try it out! Once a week, find a time and list out 5 things that you are grateful for. A good time to do this is upon rising from rest or right before turning in for bedtime.

Here are some essentials tips for your gratitude practice:

Speak what you’re grateful for out loud, write it down, visualize it, and FEEL the sensations of gratitude in your body. You will help your body rewire itself by doing this practice. It can also be helpful to write the sensations of gratitude down and revisit your list anytime you’re feeling stuck in negativity.

Cultivating this practice will support your health and wellbeing tremendously. This practice will also help you shift your experience of the world from what is wrong, what isn’t going well, who doesn’t love you, and what you don’t have to what is going well, where you are supported, where there is love, who does love you, and what you do have.

You can use concrete reminders to support yourself in your practice like a picture, symbol, literal reminder notification, or you can weave it into a routine you already have established.

It’s especially important to practice on days when you really don’t feel grateful. Find something simple like your breath, a flower blossom, a cloud in the sky that looks cool, a bird singing a song, a breeze on your skin, etc.

Below are some helpful inspirations to connect with gratitude:

I am grateful for...

The Sun, the Moon, stars/constellations, the universe, space/time, the quantum, etc.

The food you eat and all the hands that carried, cultivated, cooked and made it possible

The water you drink and all the waters of the planet.

The land, trees, plants, nature, flowers, etc.

Art, music, dance, poetry, novels, theatre, etc.

All the many forms of medicines available to you

Warm showers, warm beverages, a greeting or appreciation of someone or something

Something soft and cozy like your favorite pj’s or favorite sweater

Colors, rainbows, moonbows, sun/moon halos, etc.

Family (bio and/or chosen), friends, those who support you and are kind

Teachers, mentors, coaches, guides, therapists, shamans, healers, etc.

Pet(s) if you have any

Rest and nourishment

Your living vessel (body)

Strengths, talents, and all that you have and got you here now 

Remember that forming new practices/habits take time, intention, and practice. For full integration, usually about 90 days. Be gentle and patient w/yourself. If you forget or choose not to do the practice one day, it’s okay. Get up tomorrow and practice again.

The more we practice, the more we support ourselves to thrive and live from our pure cosmic essence, the holy wild within.

With Love,

Kimberly

Treasure your body

Nourish your mind

Awaken your spirit

Honor your journey

Give thanks