Acceptance.
A warm welcome back to Day 4 of this week long Gratitude Challenge.
I hope that you are finding that the more you practice little moments of appreciation, the more natural and ‘second nature’ it becomes.
Creating your own gratitude practice isn’t about perfection, it isn’t about precision, it can be a very simple process of noticing the good and being a little more aware of those things that bring us contentment throughout our day.
None of us is perfect and life can be messy. When we only focus upon the struggle in our day to day it can, at times feel overwhelming. We might then feel ‘Where is the good stuff to be grateful for?!’ and that’s OK.
We are human after all.
That’s where the practice of ‘Acceptance’ is helpful.
If you are finding it difficult to see the silver lining in any particular moment or gratitude feels impossible right now, simply try to accept things the way that they are in this moment.
Acceptance lessens the struggle and allows us space to feel relief. Then, when the time is right, natural feelings of gratitude return. Acceptance can be a wonderful reset method.
Acceptance doesn’t mean that this is it for good. It is allowing yourself space to release any resistance or struggle and this in itself can be very powerful.
Exercise:
Allowing yourself 5 minutes to sit, undisturbed, with your eyes gently closed and your hands resting.
Take a slow, deep, abdominal breath and a full exhalation, really sigh out all the way to the end of the breath.
Repeat for two more breaths then allow the breath to settle into its own, natural rhythm…
Fully relaxed and comfortable, picture yourself lying back on a soft, white fluffy cloud. Feel comfortable and safe as the cloud holds you securely. You nestle down into it and allow yourself to rest.
As you relax more, the cloud rises up and up and away from all of life’s worries and problems. The higher you float up, the smaller and smaller any issues become, until you are simply suspended in complete peace, embraced and safe on your cloud.
Allow these peaceful feelings of neutrality to flow through your being and say to yourself ‘I accept my life in this moment.’
Stay with the sensation of relief, release any struggle or need to change anything. Fully accept this moment, just as it is.
When you are ready, wriggle your fingers and toes and open your eyes.
Today’s Prompt:
Who or what could I be more accepting of?
I hope that today’s practice has provided you with food for thought. Gratitude isn’t always easy, some days we can find peace in simple acceptance.
I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for Day 5 of our 7 Day Gratitude Challenge.
Have a blessed day!
xoxo
#gratitude#gratitudechallenge
Inula Austin Soul Growth 