By Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodah, authors of “Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand”
We are all blessed more than we can ever imagine Granted some of us seem to be blessed more than others but nevertheless we are all blessed because life itself is a blessing. For those who don’t see it this way there is always the opportunity for change. Each of us can implement change in our life if we want it. The timing doesn’t matter. If we haven’t made the change we seek before the new year many of try to do it then.
Complaining even daily, about what we don’t like will not make a difference to improve our situation. In fact it will probably only add to our misery, so we seek change outside ourselves that we think will make our lives better. We want more money, more friends and better family relationships. We want to travel more, see the world, swim in the ocean or climb the highest mountain.
When young we are told to make a wish list. As we get older they say write down your goals. And later on, when past our prime, it is suggested we make a bucket list and hope to accomplish even a few things on it. But just
listing things we want will not make them happen. Change, even simple change, requires effort and discipline. And the sad truth is that many ofus do not have the discipline to apply the effort it takes to make the change. Change is not easy.
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Can the practice of gratitude really change your life for the better? You betcha!
The simplest way to find what we like about our life and what we want to change is to begin a daily practice of gratitude. Indeed this is an easy thing to do and the results are always surprising. Blessings do abound when we take the time to notice them. Our perspective and how we see things actually dictate how our lives unfold.
When faced with choices to make, positive choices empower us while negative choices can destroy us. How we choose to view our life is a power we all have within us.
Good things multiply and we receive more of them every day as we learn to focus and be grateful. A gratitude practice helps us find the good in the bad, see the light shining in the darkness, and recognize our ability
to marvel once again at the arrival of new things happening.It helps us find happiness from within which is where it resides in the first place.
CHANGE IS THE ONLY THING THAT NEVER CHANGES
Interesting enough is the fact that: change is the only thing that never changes. But, and here comes the but; even simple change is not easy if we find ourselve resistant to it. A lot of us simply do not like change; we’d rather things stay the way they are, no matter how much we squawk. So the first thing we must ask ourselves is this: How serious are we about making real change happen in our life? In other words: are we truly sincere about wanting to make a change or are we just spouting off about something we don’t like. Self-mastery is required for the true and lasting power. There is only one person to rule over and that is yourself.
Our universe is alive and well when we feel it in our heart. When we know we are a part of something bigger than ourselves, our hearts and minds converge in a harmonious embrace of love. After all that’s what it’s all about. Practicing gratitude wakes us up to the realization that we are at the center of our universe each and every moment we are alive. Responding to life with gratitude is the practice of spirituality in action. Go for it. Now is the time. Blessings Abound. We only have to awaken them.
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Katherine Scherer and Eileen Bodah are authors of “Blessings Abound: Awaken to the Gifts at Hand.” The book serves as a guide to help readers uncover the richness of life that often goes unnoticed. Scherer and Bodah emphasize that true blessings are not found in grand achievements or material possessions, but in the simple, everyday moments that bring joy and peace. The authors draw upon a variety of sources, including ancient wisdom, Native American lore, and insights from notable figures like Wordsworth and Thoreau to enrich their narrative.
