I am not one of those people for whom being thankful comes easily. I grew up in an environment that implanted constant criticism and an attitude of never-good-enough in me. It took me a long time and a lot of conscious effort to develop an attitude of gratitude towards my life.
Running the Gratitude Journaling Class derived from my great need to express my gratitude daily. I know from experience now, what a difference it makes in my well-being when I consciously focus on finding things in my life that I am grateful for. It changes my whole outlook on life.
“The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness (depending on the context). In some ways gratitude encompasses all of these meanings. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives.”
Yesterday I watched a film on the life of James Brown, ‘Get on up”. James Brown was an ENG8w7. His life was a sadly great example of an unhealthy ENG8. He was an extraordinary musician. As a man, however, displayed many of the characteristics of a person with unresolved or ‘unhealed’ issues.
He grew up in great poverty and was eventually deserted by both of his parents. He was given to a woman to raise him who run an alcohol den that eventually led him to prison at the age of 17.
What does it mean to be ORIGINAL and how to live it? As I child I remember having an odd effect on other children that made them run away from me. Most of my classmates and teachers did not like me very much. Apparently, I was too intense to be around.
There was only a handful of kids who were willing to play with me. Most of them are still my friends today. We were never a gang or a group but we spent time with each other during breaks or after school, mostly one on one. 🙂
The origin of Easter is rooted in an ancient pagan tradition, the celebration of the goddess, Eostre, who heralded the beginning of spring. While the name “Easter” is used in the English-speaking world, many cultures refer to it as “Passover” or “Pascha”. Early Christians chose to celebrate the resurrection of Christ around the time of Passover because Jesus died during the Passover festival and his followers believed he was resurrected from the dead three days later. So. it was logical to commemorate these events in close proximity.
More importantly, however,
each of these traditions is rooted in a story of OVERCOMING and BECOMING.
These stores depict the overcoming of ‘exile’ or ‘death’ and of being renewed. And this is the key. Resurrection (according to the Christian tradition) is a time of renewal and becoming of Spirit. So, as we approach the Easter festivities,
we are asked to contemplate on blossoming and becoming of the ‘I AM’.
Very truly, I tell you , the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these
Stretton Smith in his 4T class tells of the experiment at the University of Chicago many years ago. The directors of the experiment divided a group of students into three groups and were going to test them on the ability to shoot hoops through a basket. None of the students were basketball players.
The first group was tested to shoot from the foul line and then told to go home and forget about the test. The second group was tested and told to go home and actually practice shooting baskets for an hour each day for the next 30 days The third group was tested and told to go home and imagine shooting baskets for one hour each day for the next 30 days.
After thirty days, all three groups were tested again. There was no change in the first group, the ones who were told not to practice. The second group who actually practices improved by 24%. And the third group which tried to improve by just imagining shooting hoops, improved by 23%.
In Pixar Animation Studios’ feature film “Soul,” Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. A single unexpected step sends him to the cosmic realms where he finds the “You Seminar”—a fantastical place where Joe is forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul.
In Pixar Animation Studios’ feature film “Soul,” Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. A single unexpected step sends him to the cosmic realms where he finds the “You Seminar”—a fantastical place where Joe is forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul.
So, I watched the film.. (Must see, by the way!) In my understanding, the film depicts the Soul’s journey into and out of the physical realm as well as shows the kind of choices we make to experience the soul’s journey. Beyond all that, it personally talked to me about Passions and dream. I am not sure that my interstation is what the makers intended. Nevertheless, it made me contemplate on Life, Dreams, Passions, Fulfilment, and the Greater Journey called Life.
This animation reminded me that Life is not meant to be about pursuing dreams and passions but about experiencing the journey. Our Dreams are only signpost of what maybe or what’s possible.
I do not want to suggest that we float though life. I am talking about releasing attachment of what should be. Wishing to express and fully be present to the I AM within is not the same as pursuing a dream.
The Divine Spark within wants to express itself with the help of our EGO self. Often, however, the EGO self takes over and wants to run the show. And when it does, it is never satisfied. Nothing is ever enough. This is when life becomes an endless pursuit of happiness.
Personally, the film was a powerful reminder of how I waste my life away by constantly being fixated on something to ‘get’. My mind is endlessly occupied with what needs to be done. It is locked in the grip of ‘wanting’ and ‘needing’ until it gets what it desires.
In the film, there is a moment when the main character, Joe, says after his most precious dream has just come true: ’ Is that it’?
OMG, countless times have I experienced the same! As soon as I get what I so wanted, it dissipates and in the vacuum immediately a new dream pops up. I can pursue dreams until the cows come home because I have the stamina to do so. I have manifested most of my crazy ideas but sadly in the meantime I have mostly forgotten to just walk the journey. I can be so fixed on the end result that I forget that the journey, the way I get there is much more important than what I get at the end of it.
We are all hooked on a dream or a goal that keeps us busy until we reach. But as soon as we do, we are on to the next dream without noticing the journey, the living, the I AM. Maybe, it is time to stop and remember these great quotes from the film:
Life is full of possibilities. You just need to know where to look. Don’t miss out on the joys of life. Like, uh, Pizza… Get ready, your life is about to start!
Gardening is my new Mojo! It is my latest therapy! I would have never thought that weeding can be so much fun. 🙂
*
I thoroughly enjoy kneading the earth as I am sieving the weeds out of it. It does actually feel much like the preparation stage of baking. But the true reason why I am so keen on digging the soil is that it reminds me of my childhood, the fun time I had in the sand box. I used to love spending hours making sand castles or cooking sand food.
It seems that the whole word is on a mission to finding THE one SOUL-MATE and experiencing real intimacy. I often notice that people are upset with their partners, friends, and family members because they don’t seem to be able to guess correctly what they want, what they need, how they feel, etc. Relationships should not be guessing games.
“True emotional intimacy exists when two people can be completely free to be real.“
“Practicing true intimacy means that I can love what I love, say what I want to say, be who I want to be, do what I want to do without fear that you will not like it, or like me.” I can be REAL with you.
“In order to discover the REAL ME, I must take some time to explore everything I love. It is important for me to find my passion and power, to uncover all my parts, to bring to light what it is I came here to do on the planet. I want to be real, authentic, genuine and true to myself. So I can be REAL with you. Sometimes I have to figure out what that really means.“*
I cannot experience real intimacy without discovering the REAL ME. Discovering all that I am and all that I love can be a joy-filled process of exploring and experimenting.
COME AND JOIN ME FOR A JOURNEY OF PLAYFUL DISCOVERY OF THE ‘REAL ME’ @ the upcoming THERAPEUTIC-ART ENRICHMENT PROGRAM starting on 10th April.
It is the way we discover ourselves, the depth of who we truly are and how we express the Essence inside of us out in the world.
So, my areas of interest lie along these lines; Self-Discovery and Self-expression.
I have travelled a lot. I have lived in at least 4 different countries over the years and I have visited many more. I observed people, the way they live and the choices they make.
In conclusion, I have to say that most of us live in plans and routines.
Yesterday I watched a rom-com about a girl who is about to get married to an old family friend because they match so well. They had a 50 year plan of marriage, buying a house, having 2.3 kids, expanding their dental practise, and retiring in Miami. Her approach to life was ‘having a list’ and following a well thought-over plan: playing it safe.
As a result of an encounter with an old friend, this girl starts remembering her dream, as a child, to travel to Europe, to visit Paris and Rome, learn to speak French, and more.
When I asked elderly people about their regrets in Life, most of them expressed a sadness about not finding out and pursuing what brought them real joy. The world around us tells us how we should live our lives and we follow the instruction book blindly.
Creativity has nothing to do with being able to draw. Being creative means to be active, responsive, courageous, resilient, curious, and more.
A planned Life is restrained. BEING CREATIVE IS LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST, experiencing Life without planning but being present and responding to Life’s kind offers, learning from each experience with gratefulness.
The programs I run are full of opportunities to reconnect with our Core, our Essence and to discover the experiences we seek in Life.
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