“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”–Melody Beattie 
It’s pretty easy to be grateful when the sails of life are blowing your way. But what about those times when things “appear” not to be working out?
My tact? Say “hallelujah!” anyway.
We, in our limited pea brains, don’t always see the big picture. It’s like standing with your nose against the pointillist painting. It looks like a bunch of dots. But when you step back and look again in gratitude, it becomes Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”
Gail Lynne Goodwin told me a story that illustrates this perfectly. A few months ago, she and a couple friends had a girlfriends’ outing planned. Not sure about all the exciting details, but one of the friends, on the day of, woke up to find her daughter running a fever.
She called Gail whimpering about her bad luck. Gail responded in the way she responds to everything: “That’s fabulous!”
“No, you didn’t hear me,” her girlfriend said. “I’m not going to be able to go today.”
Again, Gail, said, “That’s fabulous!”
She reminded her that she’d been needing some free time to sift through paperwork and that this so-called “setback” provided the perfect opportunity.
Her friend thanked Gail for the reminder and not only did she end up having a delightful day with her daughter, but while cruising the internet, came across the very house she’d been lusting after for three years. This dream house was way more than she felt she could afford, but, on this day, while dealing with the disappointment of thwarted plans, she saw “her house” had gone into foreclosure and was selling for one-quarter the price.
As Gail said, “She now has a contract on her dream home.”
So, no matter what your judgments about your life may be, say, “Hallelujah!”
And be over-the-moon grateful that everything is working out for your good.
Pam Grout is the author of 16 books including E-Squared: 9 Do-it-Yourself Energy Experiments that Prove Your Thoughts Create Your Reality.
6 Responses
Thank You So Much for this reminder! Hallelujah! 🙂
Another tactic to keep my vibes in check.
Thank you for this, this is just what I needed today!
Loved the book E2, by Pam Grout
OK…I have a looonnnng story to tell you that totally relates to this. I left a message on your Facebook page the other day letting you know that I’d bought E Squared and had put out a challenge Wednesday night…to The Force..to prove itself to me and give me an unmistakable sign/gift/blessing.
I had been extremely depressed (for a couple weeks) with what I thought were valid reasons when I put the challenge ‘out’. I already believe in The Force…so I was SURE something wonderful was about to happen. I KNEW it. Wonderful Little Things did happen for 2 days…but none of them were the Sure Sign…and 48 hours later…I was a bit insulted…and PISSed. I got quite an attitude Friday night (after the 48 hour deadline) and said a few ugly things to myself…I mean…The Force…and promptly went to bed, and to sleep…grumbling a bit about how I was already a believer, fan, promoter of / in IT and grrrrrrr….grrrrrr…grrrrrr…IT let me down. Big Time.
Well, after 2 weeks of tormenting depression…with the last 48 hours of it, looking for my blessing…I woke up Saturday morning feeling GReat! My hubby and I had a wonderful, love and friend filled day. Then Sunday…we had another wonderful, fun and friend filled day.
I was telling my friend – on Sunday evening – about the challenge…and how disappointed I was that I didn’t receive a blessing…but…at the same time, I found myself talking about how I’d woke up Saturday RELIEVED of that pit I’d been in.
All of a sudden it occurred to me that THAT was IT!!!
When I thought back to Friday night, I realized that it (the depression) was actually gone when I went to bed. It was SO wonderful to realize WHAT the Universe gave me…even though it took me 48 hours MORE to recognize it. It had NOT let me down…and by looking for that blessing, I received SO VERY MUCH and believe me…I am even more of a believer now.
And OH SO grateful, grateful, grateful. What a beautiful STATE!
Thank you!
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