| Gratitude is only one of the many Spiritual Tools | | | | Feeling sorry for your self? Do something nice for |
| we can use to bring more light into our day. | | | | someone else, preferably anonymously. Make |
| Sometimes we need more than one tool to get | | | | someone else's day. Surprising a coworker with |
| the job done. | | | | fresh flowers on her desk can be enough to |
| Today I woke up in a horrible mood. I did not feel | | | | supercharge your "happiness" button for an entire |
| like doing anything but feel sorry for myself. It | | | | eight hours. Dropping a $20.00 bill through an open |
| just wasn't going to be my day. | | | | car window can at times make you absolutely |
| But "wait," said a little voice inside my head. " Is | | | | giddy. And it could definitely be enough to make |
| this really the way you want to spend the day? | | | | you forget your own problems for a time. Just |
| Just because you have started the day feeling like | | | | remember to be grateful that you have a $20.00 |
| a grump doesn't mean you have to stay that | | | | bill you can share in this way. |
| way. Are you really going to let this keep you | | | | Oh, and by the way don't forget those fresh |
| down? You have the tools, use them". | | | | flowers on your own desk. No matter how tough |
| So, listening to that beautiful voice inside my head | | | | a day you are having when you look at those |
| I almost immediately had a plan. I grabbed a | | | | flowers a part of you will remember how beautiful |
| notebook and a pen and began to list 100 reasons | | | | the world can be. And remembering can make all |
| why I was grateful. It was so much easier then | | | | the difference. |
| one would have thought. I watched as the list | | | | Heading to work every day getting you down? Is |
| grew. I have 2 arms and 2 legs, 10 fingers and 10 | | | | it getting harder and harder to get yourself |
| toes. I have a roof over my head and a very | | | | motivated? You can utilize your commute to |
| comfortable bed. I love having a hot shower in | | | | really start changing things around. Take those 10, |
| the morning, and isn't it fabulous to be in a | | | | 20, 40 minutes to remind yourself of all the things |
| position to be able to scramble a couple of fresh | | | | you appreciate about your job. For this time |
| eggs in the morning. As the list grew my mood | | | | ignore the daily, in your face stress and tell |
| lifted. Isn't it wonderful how spending 10 minutes | | | | yourself how wonderful it is to get that paycheck |
| on a gratitude list can so beautifully lift the PMS | | | | and how many things you are learning about |
| crankiness that I may have otherwise lived with | | | | yourself and others. From this place of gratitude |
| for another 3 days? | | | | visualize the day as you would like it to go, |
| Most of us spend much of our lives controlled by | | | | complete with that smile and "great job" from |
| our moods, pushed and pulled by our bodies | | | | your boss. Don't let reality get in the way of this |
| automatic responses to what is going on around | | | | play. Just have fun with it. And watch how |
| us. Scientists are now proving that our moods are | | | | bringing this "more relaxed" attitude into the |
| in essence chemical reactions to outside stimuli. | | | | workplace turns things around. The greatest |
| And researchers have shown, over and over | | | | athletes in the world will continually visualize their |
| again, that we can take conscious control over | | | | success. We get so caught up in our daily grind |
| these reactions, thus deliberately affecting the | | | | we forget how valuable a tool this can be for all |
| quality of our day to day lives. The techniques are | | | | of us. Don't let your knowledge of past difficulties |
| simple and many of them take moments. The | | | | get in your way. Just play with knowing things are |
| trick is to practice them and make them habitual. | | | | as great as you can imagine. Then watch what |
| In the same way brushing twice a day helps | | | | happens. |
| preserve your teeth, incorporating some of the | | | | So you are breathing, squeezing, dropping $20.00 |
| following into each of your days will help keep you | | | | bills, smelling flowers and visualizing that 45% |
| smiling. | | | | salary increase and you still have those days |
| Moving your breath down into your belly is a | | | | were the kids are whining, the boss is screaming |
| wonderful way to slow yourself down and quiet | | | | and the car just won't start. What do you do? |
| whatever anxiety you may be feeling. The next | | | | Why, as soon as you remember say thank you |
| time you find yourself getting worked up take a | | | | for your 10 fingers and your 10 toes. Breathe and |
| moment and quietly pay attention to how deep | | | | enjoy the beauty of the flowers on the table. |
| you are breathing. Don't be surprised when you | | | | And congratulate yourself for growing through |
| find your breath going no deeper than your chest. | | | | another day. |
| Taking the time to simply move it down to your | | | | I do not wish you joy without sorrow, |
| belly for a few moments will give you the space | | | | Nor endless day without the healing dark, |
| you need to begin putting yourself back together. | | | | Nor brilliant sun without the restful shadows, |
| It will also give your body the extra oxygen you | | | | Nor tides that never turn against your barque. |
| need to think things through clearly. | | | | I wish you love and faith and strength and |
| Anger making you see red? Grab your left thumb | | | | wisdom. |
| with your right hand and squeeze. If you can, | | | | Goods, gold enough to help some needy one. |
| imagine the anger leaving your body through your | | | | I wish you songs but also blessed silence |
| thumb in a steady, soon dwindling stream of | | | | And God's sweet peace when every day is done. |
| energy. But even if you can't see the stream still | | | | Dorothy Neil McDonald |
| squeeze. Studying Chinese Medicine will perhaps | | | | I am very grateful for all the Spiritual Tools at my |
| teach you why it works. I just know that it has | | | | disposal. |
| and so I am offering it to you. Give it a try. | | | | |