Spiritual benefits of gratitude

We are always in a state of creation in our own lives.

Each day we can influence the direction of our day; change the default we have unconsciously programmed and flip our day using the tool of gratitude.

Finding good in our lives, finding the joy in the little things, finding the previously unnoticed happiness around us, finding things to be grateful for daily,  becomes a habit and a way of being .  Practicing gratitude daily helps us to realize all the possibilities of our lives.

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The greatest spiritual benefit of gratitude is that by living from this space, we become less focused on ourselves and those things we may feel like we are drowning in. This allows us to focus on the world around us and in so doing make a difference for others too.

When we are in a place of gratitude our words, actions and behaviors reflect this.  Just by living from this space, we can lift up those around us, influencing others through our state of being, helping them to focus on the positive.  We can even transform the environment we function in.  And this in turn helps us to create a better day, every day.

Sometimes, when we have faced darkness and challenges, it can be quite a struggle to feel connected to a Higher Power.  Practicing gratitude is the most simple and effective way of feeling loved and taken care of and we are able to create more of  a connection to whatever our belief system may be. We can become more connected and in tune with Source, feeling the love surrounding us constantly.

Here are a few suggestions to become more spiritually connected through gratitude:

  • Give thanks for the awakening first thing in the morning.  Though this is not always easy depending on the circumstance you find yourself in, taking a moment to truly look at why your awakening is so valuable, can help you in your life.
  • Give thanks for the possibilities that may arise in the new day.  Each new day holds endless possibilities. When you find yourself in a place of challenges, using the practice can help you to “reset” your emotional state.  Through this, you can start opening your mind to the possibilities or solutions that you need.
  • Find gratitude in the small things.  Seeking even the smallest thing, like a flower growing in a crack on the sidewalk, a sunny day, or the smell of rain, we move our inner being to a calmer, more connected place.

How has gratitude had an impact on your spiritual self? 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