Weekly Quote:

“The more you practice gratitude, the more you see how much there is to be grateful for.” – Don Miguel Ruiz

Contemplation:

~ As we traverse the universe of change and connection to our authentic selves, it seems the concept of gratitude survives through the ages always seeming to wind up working itself into the vernacular of help.. Why? Why should we keep talking about gratitude? We would argue because it is an attitude that we have control over. We can employ it anytime we like – and it has the power to change our mood, and release dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Of course, it is not the end all be all and I think this is where gratitude gets unfairly treated. The “why should I” concept can really challenge the spirit particularly when we are downtrodden but that’s the point isn’t it? How can we begin to turn the big ship of catastrophizing into something useful so we begin the climb out of the wallow? In a CBT model, we must identify our distortions and challenge them lest we suffer them as fact….most of the time, they are not….and gratitude can be just the thing to right the capsizing of our self-infliction….

Tip for the Week:

~  Write down three things you are grateful for. They can be anything, of course, the only rule is they must be true. What shifted precisely at that moment you realized something you were grateful for? What is it like to look at all three? How can this exercise be a starting point for validation and change?

Song of the Week:

~ I Love You Like An Alcoholic – The Taxpayers