WISDOM WITHIN - November 2016 - Kansas City

 

Creating a Life Rich with Gratitude

By Suzette Scholtes

 

Master yoga teacher Aadil Palkivala swings around to look at us after writing “Feel Gratitude” on the flip chart. We were discussing the yoga philosophy of “ignorance” which keeps us from freedom and happiness. “Feel humility and feel gratitude and you may overcome most resistances,” he shares.

 

How many gifts do we receive by feeling gratitude? (I wrote last year & worth repeating)

• Gratitude improves your immune system

• Gratitude fosters peace

• Gratitude creates confidence

• Gratitude attracts more success

• Gratitude improves happiness

• Gratitude heals anxiety

• Gratitude inspires new dreams

• Gratitude opens doors to new opportunity.

• Gratitude helps us release the past

• Gratitude heals our “wounds”

 

Most of us who read this magazine strive to create the best life we can for ourselves and our loved ones. We all look within. New York Times best-selling author Pam Grout writes in Thank & Grow Rich, abundance comes when you show gratitude for even the littlest of things in your life.

 

I am teaching myself one of her exercises: As soon as you awake in the morning say  “something amazing, exciting and awesome is headed my way today.” Then believe in the blessings and miracles. I look for them in my day, especially to find beauty in this world and others.

 

The other caveat is to remain free of attaching to the outcome. This is tough. We want what we want. It helps to “surrender.” Surrender your fears, doubts, frustrations, worries and ask your highest self to heal them.  Marianne Williamson writes this in her book A Return to Love: Reflections on the principles of A Course in Miracles. This has been quoted much over the years and attributed to the wrong author. Williamson is the one who wrote it. What beauty and wisdom shine in these words:

 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

 

As we begin our 2016 season of light, may we thrive on lifting ourselves up with meditation, silence, and feeling this precious gratitude. It will help ease the chaos and heal us all. Join me?

 

Suzette Scholtes’ non-fiction writing won the prestigious “Writers Digest” award. Her passions are writing and yoga and she feels one needs a sense of humor for both. She founded The Yoga School of Therapeutics where she manages one of the regions prestige teacher training programs. 10400 W. 103rd Street,

Overland Park.  

 

www.theyogastudio.com news@theyogastudio.com 

 

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