Beattie - Gratitude: Inspirations by Melody Beattie, Author of the Language of Letting Go

Author of The Language of Letting Go

In our busy, harried lives, it's tempting to focus on what we haven't accomplished and what we don't yet possess. That trap of more, more, more only alienates us from our loved ones and our connectedness with a Higher Power. The solution to reconnecting to what's important in life can be as simple as getting in touch with the power of gratitude.

With practice, it is possible to redirect our focus from large, daunting problems to life's small, beautiful blessings that are ever present and ever sustaining.

Cultivating a true sense of gratitude is more than counting our blessings and saying thank you for what's good. When we're learning to speak the language of gratitude, we learn to say thank you for everything in our lives, whether we feel grateful or not. That's how we turn around circumstances that frustrate or disappoint us.

The benefits of nurturing an attitude of gratitude are numerous. A sense of gratitude immediately gives us a sense of perspective when facing problems. Gratitude helps us make the most of resources at hand. And above all else, a sense of gratitude helps us truly recognize the presence of a Higher Power in our lives.

W hen we hoard what we have been given, we block the door to receiving more. If you are feeling stagnant in your life, share some of what has been given to you. Let go of some of the sorrow that you have experienced by sharing your experienceand the compassion that you have learned from itwith another. Share your success by teaching someone else your methods. Share in the abundance given to you; donate to a favorite charity or church. Give of your time, your money, your abilities. When you give, you open the door to receive more.

S omeone once asked the artist Georgia O'Keeffe why her paintings magnified the size of small objectslike the petals on a flowermaking them appear larger than life, and reduced the size of large objectslike mountainsmaking them smaller than life.

Everyone sees the big things, she said. But these smaller things are so beautiful and people might not notice them if I didn't emphasize them. That's the way it is with gratitude and letting go. It's easy to see the problems in our lives. They're like mountains. But sometimes we overlook the smaller things; we don't notice how truly beautiful they are.

God, teach me how to enjoy and
savor the pleasures, gifts, and talents
that are spread out before me.

Be grateful you're where you are at this moment.
Don't worry about trying to hurry the future along.
Look for the joy in life now.

L et yourself have all your emotions and feelings about losing people and moments you loved and cherished. Feel as sad as you need to. Grieve. Then let the feelings and the past go. Don't let your memories stop you from seeing how beautiful and precious each moment in your life is now.

God, thank you
for what I've been given.

G od, help me give abundantly of what's been given to me. Teach me how to give, so that both my giving and my receiving are healthy and free from attachments.

G od, please help me let go of my expectations and accept the gifts that you give me each day, knowing that there is beauty and wonder in each act of life.

I t's so easy to see and notice what we like in other people. Sometimes, it's not as easy to see the attributes and beauty in ourselves. It's good to see the beauty in others. But sometimes, take a moment and get excited when you notice what's beautiful in yourself, too.

T ake another look at that moment when one door has closed behind you and you're standing in that dark hallway, but no door opens up. Perhaps you have let go of whatever you've been grasping so tightly and you're left standing with an empty hand. If you're at an in-between place, don't just accept it. Revel in it, embrace it, rejoice at your opportunity to sit in the birthplace of all that will come along your path. Relax into the void and allow creation to flow.

God, help me see the beauty and the
good in life. Help me be aware of what
I like in others, so that I can better
define what I aspire to become.

God, help me welcome all the new
experiences in my life. Give me the courage
to calmly walk my path today, knowing
I'm right where I need to be.

I n our everyday lives, there are times when we are frightened, times when we need a friend to give us courage, and times when we can be a friend giving courage to someone else. Be grateful for those who have helped you find strength. Be grateful for the times when you have helped your friends find courage of their own.

S ometimes, we can sit down and anticipate the times to come. We can look at our money, our strength, our abilities, our stamina, and say wearily, There just won't be enough. That's because we're looking too far ahead. Look around at what you have available, this moment or this hour. Use the resources and gifts you've been given. Tomorrow's manna will come at its appointed hour.

God, grant me the
serenity that acceptance brings.

God, help me accept all the twists
and turns along my path.
Help me learn to be present to the
good and the unfortunate incidents
that come my way.

W hen we want something so badlyfor instance our spouse to change, or that job, or that woman or that manwe begin to obsess and dwell. We take ourselves out of that place of balance and end up in a no-win tailspin. Don't let your needs and desires run away with you. Yes, passion is great stuff. Identify what you want. Then let it go. And ask God what your lesson is.

W e can want things, pray for things, and hope that things will come to pass. But ultimately, we're not in control. Instead of spending our time and energy trying to get someplace else, we can learn the lesson and enjoy the beauty of the life we've been given.

Are you focusing on the circumstances
of your life instead of the lessons?
Instead of asking why, learn to ask
what the lesson is. The moment you
become ready to accept it, the lesson
will become clear.

God, help me be clear with you and myself about
what I really want. Then, help me let go of my
intentions and surrender to your plan.

T oday, I will come back to balance with any need or want that seems to be controlling my life. Instead of dwelling on it, I'll give it to God and focus on taking care of myself.

W e call it keeping up with the Joneses. They buy a boat and we buy a bigger one. They get a new TV and we get a big screen. While it helps to identify with each other, we're not all the same. So why compare ourselves on the basis of material things?