“Writing down one thing you are grateful for each day is the cheapest possible therapy ever.”–Kevin Kelly
With all the world’s seeming issues, it can be hard to decide what to take on first. Should I contribute to the food bank? Should I march for peace?
It seems to me that the above headline, about filling the world with gladness is about as good a place to start as any.
Can you imagine if every person on the planet was filled with wonder, with gratitude? If every person spent their time noticing the extravaganza of trees and birdsong and stars that are available free of charge at every moment of every day?
I even wondered at yesterday’s possibility posse, when discussing strategies for getting kids to do chores, “what if parents modeled loving gladness when doing THEIR chores?” It’s only a learned cultural program that some things are fun to do and others aren’t. It’s us who give cues on how to react to things, how to “do life.”
Today’s Course lesson promises that every time we channel Elvis and say, “Thank you. Thank you very much,” it multiplies. It’s given back to us, it says, a thousand times and then a hundred thousand times more. Talk about compound interest.
Nature photographer Camille Seaman, who gained notoriety in 2003 for her photographs of the Arctic Ocean, said while watching the news after 9/11, “Where are the stories about how beautiful this life is?”
Her grandfather, a native Shinnecock, made her and her cousins sit outside every day for at least an hour. He’d ask, “What did you learn?” He’d point at clouds and say, “See that cloud up there? It’s made of your perspiration. And some day it will water this garden.” His great wisdom started her on the road of recognizing how connected we all are—not only to each other, but to clouds and water and the whole circle of life.
But the story that really got to me was when she was learning to surf. A friend took her out into the ocean, gave her a couple instructions and then abandoned her. Or that’s what she thought. She swam back to shore, livid that he would leave her in danger like that. And he told her something she never forgot. “It is only you who can learn to manage your fear.”
So she went back out on that surfboard and every time a fear would rear it’s ugly head, she asked this all-important question. “But is it happening now?”
She’d think, I could be gobbled up by a shark. And then ask herself, “But is it happening now?” And then a thought like, “I could get pulled under by a tidal wave” or “This heavy board could knock me unconscious.” And again she’d ask, “But is it happening now?”
It’s such a profound question and the perfect way to discover that, right now, in this moment gladness is here, waiting for me to notice, waiting for me to use its profound power to fill the world. #222 Forever
And FYI, here’s my latest podcast interview
Pam Grout is the author of 20 books including E-Squared, E-Cubed, Thank & Grow Rich and her latest book, The Course in Miracles Experiment: A Starter Kit for Rewiring Your Mind (And Therefore Your World) that has just been turned into an app. Badass ACIM (badass-acim.com)
23 Responses
I have to keep reminding myself that right now, right this second, right this moment, I am OK. It’s too easy to let the mind run amuk, especially right now, especially in canada.
Thank you for your timely thoughts, as always.
You are right, we need to remember that right at this moment we are ok. Stopping the mind from wandering is the key.
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I have parented my beautiful daughter solo since she was born. She’s almost 13. When she was teeny tiny, I used to put on music to clean the house before Friday dinner, so she could “help me” with the chores. Getting joyful before Shabbat dinner was always how we have thought about housecleaning– we were about to welcome the Sabbath Bride! My tiny girl called what we did “broom dancing,” and it is still how we clean house. Even when she is lazy or snotty about it, it tends to be fun– more dancing, less sweeping– like the time she used a fancy lavender bath bomb to clean the toilet. I was super annoyed (I had been saving it), but also super amused– it is still to this day a more satisfying “happy thought” than just having had that fancy bath would have been. Whatever day or meal or weekly event is the most sacred for you, I highly recommend reframing housework as part of getting into a joyful energy about it. “Broom dancing” has made an endless and potentially overwhelming aspect of single parenting into one of our most cherished and joyful family experiences.
Thankyou Sasha for this delightful story! I love the idea of “Broom Dancing” and it’s how I’m going to think of cleaning my house from now on. 💛🧹💃😁
Thank You Sasha for your most joyful story. I especially love the Bath Bomb part. Still smiling….perhaps l’ll infect someone else with my happiness 🙂
Your post caught my eye- I think that’s great that you and your daughter did broom dancing. It reminded me of my all time favorite dance scene in the movies- which was a broom dance. If you’d like to see it (it’s about a 3 minute clip from Youtube), here is the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fgxD7igaUk
It’s from the moving “Breakin” from 1983. Turn the sound up high if you watch it!!
Thank you Pam. Your words are so inspirational to me and keep me mindful. Kathleen
Yes, right now is always alright, it’s “just” the drama lover in us that likes to tell different stories 🙁 :-/ 😉 :-)…
I like how this sentence turns out with the “mange” instead of “manage”: “It is only you who can learn to mange your fear.”
It’s French and means “eat.” 😀 So true, only we can eat our fears. So why not chew and digest them well … They might be nourishing :-).
thank you for the encouraging and loving words that you bless us with!
Absolutely beautiful, thank you Xxxxxxxxxx
Thanks for the great post, and for sharing the link of our conversation.
That was a wonderful interview!! You and Pam had a really good energy going. I really enjoyed that. And I love the story of how you and your husband made your circumnavigation possible. I also loved the way you phrased a certain question regarding Pam at some point in the past realizing that the doom/gloom/lack story wasn’t valid- you very thoughtfully asked something like, “how did you …. figure that out?”
Thanks, David.
Thank you!
Dear dear Pam, thank You for this. 🦋💟🦋
I soooo could hear Elvis’ voice sayin’ ”Thank You. Thank you very much.”
I have a wonderful insight or mostly experience to share With you.
I’ve been reading Lorna’s books about angels and I too want to ”meet” my angels, and since she told that it’s ok to ask for a sign From your guardian angel, I asked for a feather 🪶
Well right the very next morning I found a white small fluffy feather from our yard. Okay, have to admit, especially after talking with my husband, that feathers are all around our yard. And maybe he should ask for a gold bar. 😅 (Said to him maybe keep it realistic)
Anyhow, I then asked for a bow or a signet of some kind 🎀💌 And then couple of days later (I didn’t instantly notice this, as it dawned on me later) I had put a bow pin in my hair, and it was falling and my daughter noticed it and rescued it and handed it over to me 🥰🥰🥰😍🤩😍🦋
How ‘Universe shouting’ is that 💟💝
Now I’m looking for those 1g cold bars to give as a 🎁 for my dear hubby 🦋💝🦋
Also, I made a new Pelonteet video about staying in the present. Just here and now.
Love, Love, Love. #222forever
Love to All,
Pure Love 💟🦋💟
With Love, Teija and Pelonteet 💟💟💟
Cold bars 🤣🤣🤣🤓🤓💙💙💙💙💙🥶🤪🤪
Meant of course *gold* 🤣
Thankyou very much Pam! 😁 I love the idea of filling the world with gladness. It makes my heart smile, and feels like a simple, joyful thing to do. And I TOTALLY love the idea of parents modelling doing chores with joy – and of all of us reframing what we think is fun to do and what isn’t. (I’m planning on adopting the title of “Broom Dancing” for any house cleaning I have to do, thanks to Sasha who told a great story in the comments here. 😁🧹💃) And I also love the idea of asking yourself if what you’re fearing is happening now. That’s a wonderful way of learning to manage your fear. So, “thankyou very much” Pam – for this post, for your enthusiasm, your encouragement and your example to us all of living joyfully and gratefully no matter what. You rock! 😁
Love and blessings from Jenny Louise 💗
💟🌸🦋🌏🌷💟
Thank you, Pam!!
I particularly loved the interview that you put a link to. That was great!! You and Ms. Midgorden had a really positive vibe. It was very uplifting and thoughtful. It went well with my garlic avocado salad!!
I like this idea so much and have thought it was under rated. I figure if all I can pass along is a smile to everyone I pass by, then we are all a little bit happier. I started and have continue a one line gratitude journal since 2012. It goes with me even when we are evacuated due to fire or power outage and ice. It’s not optional. There is something to be grateful about in the most difficult of circumstances. Helps the perspective. 🙂 I’ll go listen to the podcast now. Thanks.
What a perfect post! 🌟
Beautiful and true. Same thing. Thank you Pam. Viviana
El lun., 3 may. 2021 12:32 p. m., Pam Grout escribió:
> psgrout posted: ” “Writing down one thing you are grateful for each day is > the cheapest possible therapy ever.”–Kevin Kelly With all the world’s > seeming issues, it can be hard to decide what to take on first. Should I > contribute to the food bank? Should I march fo” >
Thank You 🙏. This is so lovely ❤️