| We celebrate Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S.A. | | | | * Breath that gratitude back into the world on the |
| on the fourth Thursday of November. It's a time | | | | out breath. Don't hold your breath, draw it out, or |
| to reflect on our blessings and express in some | | | | otherwise try to manipulate the natural rhythm of |
| way our gratitude for them. Many of us have the | | | | breathing; just follow it with this feeling of |
| day off of work, and we go out of our way to | | | | gratitude. |
| spend time with family and friends, gorging on | | | | * Continue this process, refreshing the image of |
| good food. | | | | the thing you are grateful for, or repeating its |
| My family and I love this holiday, and I hope that | | | | name to yourself, to keep the feeling of gratitude |
| whatever the specifics of your Thanksgiving Day | | | | fresh. |
| this year, you were able to spend some time | | | | Feel free to allow other 'items of gratitude' to |
| considering the elements of your own life for | | | | suggest themselves to you - the point of this isn't |
| which you are grateful. Doubtless, you've heard | | | | so much to focus on what makes you feel |
| that same sentiment more than once. | | | | grateful, but the gratitude itself. Allow as many |
| It's good to be reminded, Thanksgiving Day of all | | | | different things which prompt that feeling as you |
| days, to review the things we can point to which | | | | like. Eventually, you might find yourself feeling |
| fill our lives with happiness. But rather than simply | | | | gratitude burning in your heart WITHOUT any of |
| be one more voice reminding you to 'give thanks', | | | | these cues. |
| I thought I might offer a simple generative | | | | In his book the Heartmath Solution, Doc Childre |
| meditation exercise which will help you experience | | | | uses human physiology to build a strong case for |
| that gratitude more profoundly. | | | | the benefits of a similar exercise. He talks about |
| The following steps are all that is involved: | | | | the heart's brain, and gives a lot of the usual |
| * Find a quiet time and place where you will be | | | | health improvement citations for why we might |
| undisturbed for however long you wish to | | | | want to pursue this. I enjoyed reading his book |
| meditate. | | | | and you might find that it provides insights for |
| * Spend a few moments simply breathing. | | | | you, too. |
| Experience your entire torso as air comes into | | | | That is more than fine, but I would also point out |
| your body through your nose, and leaves again. | | | | that developing a vibrant sense of gratitude for all |
| No tension is required, or attempt at controlling | | | | the good things in our lives helps our spiritual |
| your breath. Just breath and experience the | | | | growth, too. When we feel like we have a lot |
| action. | | | | going for us, it's easy - almost automatic - to |
| * Spend a few more moments feeling your heart | | | | exhibit many of the other values our religious |
| beat in your chest. | | | | traditions prescribe. Generosity, loving kindness, |
| * Identify something (anything in your life will do) | | | | justice, forgiveness: all of these are easier to |
| for which you are grateful. Big or small, something | | | | express naturally when we are operating from a |
| that saved your life, or something of little 'real' | | | | sense of plenty, rather a sense of being |
| import - makes no difference, so long as it is | | | | threatened by a feeling of poverty. |
| something which prompts gratitude in your spirit. | | | | So this Thanksgiving Day, and on lots of other |
| * Now, seeing an image of that thing, or saying its | | | | days too, spend a few minutes breathing |
| name silently to yourself, imagine breathing that | | | | gratitude. It will be one more thing you can be |
| feeling of gratitude into the spot in your chest | | | | glad for in your life. |
| where your heart is beating. | | | | |