Gratitude

Gratitude

Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

                                                                                   Melody Beatty

Every morning when I wake up I take a few moments to say Thank You to life. I want to express my gratitude for waking up to another surprising, amazing and beautiful day, to be happy and (still) healthy. 

There is so much beauty around us, so much kindness,  and there are so many wonders. I want to live in awareness of all these gifts, to accept them with an open heart and to spread my joy and happiness to others.  If I smile in gratitude to Life, Life smiles back at me.

However, not every day is a happy day: difficult situations and sad events hit us from out of the blue, and we might feel overwhelmed and desperate. But if you stop and concentrate, you will always find something to be grateful for.  On such days it is good to look out for the small reasons for happiness: the smile of a stranger, a fresh and juicy apple directly from the tree, a letter from someone you love, or a beautiful flower on your way to work.

Gratitude is the key to happiness.

The Bridge

The Bridge

Breath is the bridge that connects life to consciousness, the bridge that unites your body to your thoughts.

Thich Nhat Hanh: The Miracle of Mindfulness 

Especially when it comes to meditation and “spiritual” techniques, things often get very complicated; mantras in unknown languages and long, elaborate explanations. I like instructions that are easy and visual.

The picture of the bridge is so simple and straightforward. Before my inner eye I see my breath building a bridge between my body and my thoughts, and I feel how breathing mindfully creates openness and space in my head. It’s a wonderful, light and airy feeling!

The quote continues: "Whenever your mind becomes scattered, use your breath as the means to take hold of your mind again” and yes, that’s exactly what crossing that bridge does. 

So whenever there’s to much going on inside and around me, I cross the bridge between body and thoughts with mindful breathing, and I come back to my true, silent, observing self.  United as one being.

Control Your Thoughts

AA wrote:  Denna krönika är på pricken vad min kollega behöver. Jag har just delat med mig till honom. Tack! 

Control Your Thoughts

The soul becomes dyed with the colour of its thoughts.

                                    Marcus Aurelius

You are probably already aware of the fact that thoughts rule your life - and not the other way around. Most often we let “our” thoughts roam free. Perhaps we don’t even consider the fact that we can, actually, control them.

Being controlled by your thoughts may seem to be a human predicament. They just fall in on you all the time and take over your life. Thoughts can make you sad or angry, worried or jealous, but of course also happy and calm.They dye your soul. Who hasn’t felt total blackness inside when a great anger has risen - or the soft golden glow of caring for somebody dear to you. 

The point is that thoughts push you to always dislike or like things, to reject or crave for them. They don’t leave you any peace of mind - and they consume very much of your energy. Energy that you could use in much better ways. 

Becoming the master of your own mind is a lifelong task. It starts with realising that you are not your thoughts. Thoughts pass through you, as the air, and you are the one who’s watching them.Try to place your attention behind your head and  focus on the thoughts that constantly pop up in there - and then just let them go. Don’t get involved. As soon as you notice a new thought emerging in your brain, let it go. 

 Solving a task at work or at home is one thing, then you choose what to think about and do it in a focused way. But being constantly overwhelmed by free roaming thoughts that steal your energy is another thing. You’re definitely better off dropping them. Remember, you are not your thoughts; you are the attention behind them.