PRACTICE
52 Weeks of Spiritual Practice
By Deborah Williams
The
purpose of the 52 Principles is to develop a partnership, a connection with
God. Connecting with God is why we are here; the soul’s desire. To be in
communication with the Creator is ideally the most fulfilling life, our best
life. The intent of the 52 Principles is God-realization through daily
practice. Practice the principles with frequency and find God-consciousness
through your own efforts. With practice, you will begin to encounter your
experiences in a spiritual context as you begin to practice and master
spiritual principles. This week’s spiritual principle is Gratitude.
Gratitude
is an act of humility. Gratitude is giving thanks and appreciation for all that
is and will be. The benefits of appreciation are
intangible. Appreciation raises the energy level of the giver and receiver and creates a sense
of gratitude. Decide today, what and how
much gratitude you want to experience by giving and receiving. Begin with
giving. Give your talent, service, a great idea, a generous thought. Give
wisdom, peace, harmony, a prayer. Give appreciation, joy, and a smile. Give
extra effort and energy. Use your voice to create peace and love. You get back
what you give, only multiplied; Give and
it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the
measure you use, it will be measured to you (Luke 6:38). Good produces more
good.
Gratitude
parallels the universal laws of Giving and Receiving, the Law of Karma, the Law
of Attraction, the Law of Common Sense, the Law of Service, and the Law of Love.
Feeling a sense of gratitude heightens
awareness. Love, appreciation, gratefulness, and gratitude are the essence of
the soul. A feeling of wellness is a result of feeling connected. When we feel
good, we align with our source energy – God - soul. We are not obligated to
feel good about the negative energy of others. We have no control of what
others feel, or how they feel, but we can control how we feel. Our primary goal
is to feel good, to feel grateful and appreciative.
Be
grateful and speak your declarations of gratitude and bring joy to the soul. Think
on good things (Philippians 4:8). Only one thought can dominate the
consciousness at a time. You cannot be grateful and defensive at the same time.
The non-physical energy of the soul is love, peace, appreciation, gratitude,
and well-being. There is appreciation in giving and receiving. Teach others
about the value of gratitude, coupled with faith, responsibility, and
compassion. Teach others about the laws and principles that are soul-filled.
Self-Assessment:
What
are you willing and able to give to others?
Can
you receive what is given to you?
Have
you been called to do something inspirational (write, create, artistic,
altruistic, service)?
What
is the value of gratitude?
What
are you thankful for?
Are
you a complainer?
What
and who are you most grateful for?
Have
you missed an opportunity to give?
Are
you aware of all that you have?
Is
your “thank you” to others heartfelt or a reflex?
Is
there anything more important to you than feeling good?
Are
you aware of the Law of Gratitude?
Gratitude Practices:
- Group/Family Appreciation: Celebrate family by supporting and recognizing successes. Focus less on mistakes and deficiencies by celebrating family achievements; celebrate the Divinity of each family member. Sit together with your family and express your appreciation for each other. You can do this in rounds. Start with anyone by saying I really appreciate that you… I really appreciate how kind you were when you… I appreciate that you make sure we … Continue the round, until everyone gives appreciation to one other person; then do a second round and a third, until everyone has appreciated everyone else in the group. Do this every day for at least a week. Notice not only how it makes people feel to be appreciated, but how it feels to give appreciation (Leap Before You Look by Arjuna Ardagh).
- Gratitude Journal: A Gratitude Journal is significant to physical and spiritual well-being. List every day at least three experiences that you are grateful for – person, place, or thing. In addition, list the good things that happened to you and/or others. Studies indicate that acknowledging your gratitude and appreciation impacts your level of happiness.
- Affirmation: In all situations, there are unlimited possibilities and outcomes. Affirm to yourself and others - “I can hardly wait to see the good that will come out of this.”
- Acknowledgment Exercise: Right a Thank You Letter to someone who has been kind, compassionate, and helpful to you and others. If possible, deliver the letter in person. Gratitude creates a bond when it is heartfelt.
- Rampage of Appreciation (ROP): What can you feel appreciation for in this moment? The goal of ROP is to feel good by creating energy in the present moment. ROP heightens our vibrational energy – our soul energy. Look around and identify what delights you in your immediate environment. Stay with the thought and feel the thought transform into a good feeling in the body – this is your soul energy. Move to the next object of your appreciation and continue to repeat the process. To enhance the affect of ROP, find things throughout the day to appreciate, and write about the things that provide you with the most joy. For best results, practice ROP at least 10 to 15 minutes a day, and throughout the day. ROP provides us with a technique to feel the vibration of the soul. (Ask and It Is Given by Esther and Jerry Hicks).
Be
thankful for what you have and share your experience with others. Begin each
day with a prayer of gratitude. Can you see, have you eaten today, can you walk,
can you talk? Is there something or someone you can love? Is there someone you
can call if you need help? Is there someone who loves you? Are your lungs,
kidneys, and heart functioning without assistance? Can you breathe without
assistance? Do you know the difference between laughing and crying? Can you see
the beauty of a flower? Can you hug a child? Can you feel the warmth of the
sun, the coldness of snow, the wind on your skin, the wetness of rain? Celebrate life by being grateful for
all things; big and small. Be thankful for every yes!
How can you experience the
fullness of gratitude in life? Develop your own spiritual practice.
Peace and Much Blessings
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