Resetting our emotional state through gratitude

Gratitude is a powerful tool that can help us deal with tough situations. When you feel like the walls are closing in on you and it seems to be “storming” in your life, the practice of gratitude can help you to refocus.  Practicing gratitude can help us feel more positive.

Focusing on the good experiences as opposed to drowning in the bad, impacts relationships and even helps us cope with challenging realities.

We can use the practice of gratitude to reset our emotional state by changing the way we see a situation.  Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do about the things that have happened. But, there’s a lot we can do about how they continue to impact our lives.

Here are some examples of how to begin this practice:Today I am thankful for today

  • Finding gratitude in our past – recognizing the things that have indeed been great and those moments that made us light up with joy. Trusting the even where there’s been lots of hurt , there Is a tiny bit of Joy. .

  • Practicing seeing beauty,  even when it appears there is none, such as the smile of a child or a daffodil in a dirt pile

  • Finding gratitude in the small things, such as a favorite treat,  an act of self-care or taking a walk through a beautiful area.

Receiving gratitude from others is just as important as giving it.

 When we give gratitude, we gift another with the knowledge that they have made a difference to us and shows our appreciation for their place in our lives. And receiving gratitude allows others to give us the same care. When we are open, receiving gratitude will leave us more motivated, feeling loved and cared for.  

This gratitude exchange can have a vital impact on relationships. By expressing your gratitude to a person close to you, it allows you to focus on the things that you love most about them instead of the things that irritate or challenge you. This helps create a stronger relationship and opens communication to solve anything that needs to be dealt with.

The most powerful emotional benefit of practicing gratitude daily is that you are beginning to love yourself more and see more of who you are and what you are capable of. 

By taking time each day to observe the things about yourself that you are most grateful for, you can begin to realize your self-worth and what your place in this world is.

Daily gratitude can be one of the most powerful healing tools.

As part of your gratitude practice for this week, list at least 5 things that you love about yourself and 5 things that you appreciate about your partner/friend/person close to you.

I would like to hear your thoughts on the emotional impact gratitude has had for you?  Share and let me know.

Be Well, Be Blessed

Santa

RUNNING THROUGH DARKNESS
MEMOIR OF A SPIRITUAL WARRIOR

BY SANTA MOLINA-MARSHALL ‧ RELEASE DATE: MAY 3, 2022

This debut memoir chronicles a woman’s spiritual exploration and growth as she overcame a disturbing childhood and helped others heal.

Brought to America from the Dominican Republic as a youngster, Molina-Marshall should have led a happy life. Her father was a diligent worker, and his large family wanted for nothing. But the author recounts that her dad had a drinking problem and was a serial philanderer. Molina-Marshall’s long-suffering mother left him for a woman. Then it was all downhill for the bright, 12-year-old girl, who was shuttled between foster care and relatives. According to the author, she was sexually abused by the husband of one of her siblings. This resulted in Molina-Marshall becoming alienated and moody. By 15, she simply tried to survive. In her favor were grit and a restless intelligence. She quit school, rented a room, and found a factory job. Time went by, and for a while she was happily married. Yet when her husband left her, her life truly began. She turned to religion for answers but decided that blaming God for her woes was a cop-out. 

In this absorbing and moving memoir, Molina-Marshall’s vivid storytelling is fearless. She frankly discusses the truths she discovered and the indignities she suffered. These admissions are disclosed with a touch of resignation and plenty of bite. However painful, everything she experienced was a lesson, and she bravely realized that she was part of the problem: “The fear of being hurt, rejected, or abused often led to me feeling lonely and misunderstood. No one knew the agonizing pain I felt being trapped in my thoughts and anger. I was becoming my biggest threat.” 

The author skillfully recounts her intricate spiritual journey. To deal with her psychic wounds, she searched for an inspirational system. Her open-mindedness led her to the interfaith concept—cherry-picking from various religions and spiritual movements, yoga, and Indigenous beliefs as a way of finding peace. Along with her female partner, she built a therapy practice, making use of every spiritual element that aided her and others. The road was bumpy, and she found that women of color in same-sex relationships were not welcomed everywhere. To do good works—and finally live on her own terms—she effectively overcame bigotry.

An engrossing, cathartic account of empathy and success through determination and confidence.

Pub Date: May 3, 2022   |    ISBN: 978-0-578-38315-6  |   Page Count: 264    | Publisher: From Trauma to Triumph  |   Review Posted Online: June 13, 2022