The Power of Gratitude & Always Reflecting Back

I have been reflecting with a lot of gratitude the last couple of days about my decision to put down the chardonnay over 4 years ago now! But like most journeys it wasn't linear. There was a couple of years of taking breaks, wondering if I could moderate, did I really want to quit forever.. What would that be like, would I always feel like I was missing out, would nice dinners out be the same, holidays, sunsets, vacations...??  

So I made a deal with myself, let just give it a year. If you really get to a place where you don't want it anymore, then all of those questions resolve themselves right?? Anyway.. four plus years later it is the best decision I ever made! It was the one thing that changed everything. It allowed me to then start to see what other big changes I was capable of and that would help me live a more fulfilling and happy life. 

Anyway, yesterday I spent 14 + hours in the car driving from Florida to Kentucky by myself. I was reflecting how 5 or 6 years ago this would not have been the same experience, and most likely not even possible if I am being honest. I would not have had the energy or stamina. Because I am free from the negative consequences of regular and prolonged alcohol use, I can do so much more now!! It is amazing! I have so much more energy, stamina and resilience. Keep in mind I still have some negative consequences I am dealing with from carrying 50+ extra lbs. I am not trying to say that I have it all together and it is all sunshine and roses. But there are some night and day differences that I experience in my life now and it is only getting better! 

Gratitude and reflecting back regularly is a powerful practice to employ in any lasting change you want to make. It keeps those new neural pathways that you worked so hard to pave fresh and well defined and can keep you from sliding back into old habits. Those other neutral pathways of the old habits never fully go away, and if we are not careful we can settle into our new normal and complacency and fading affect bias can creep in. This is a power neural network that is in place to help us, but understanding how it works and respecting it and working with it for the long game is critical to lasting change! 

 

Exploring Prayer & Beyond

Michael Singer author of the Untethered Soul is one of my favorite authors and spiritual teachers. I recently listened to a talk he gave regarding prayer and had a very interesting perspective and some good things for the listener to think about. Here is my summary of that talk: 

What about prayer? Why do we pray? Does it work? Should we pray? First let’s consider all that is going on all the time that we take for granted and we don't usually pray for. Our heart beating, our lungs breathing, all the cells of our body doing what they do. We are miracles down to the quantum level, and yet we don’t pray for these things. The universe is doing its things at the larger cosmic level. We don’t pray that the degrees of the earth’s axis and rotation stays consistent in order for our life on earth to happen. Just slight changes in all of this could have catastrophic effects, globally, universally and in with in our bodies. Yet we have such great faith and belief that we don’t even consider praying for these things, we just trust whole heartedly that our hearts will beat, our lungs will breath, our kidneys will do their thing and on and on… So lets look at the things we do pray for. It always goes back to ‘I am not ok, and I need this thing to happen or not happen, or this person to get well so they at I don’t have to lose them or feel this pain. It often has do with our own state of beings. So just like with all the other things we talk about it is why are you doing what your are doing, and prayer is no different. That does’t mean that is doesn’t work or that you shouldn’t do it. It does work and it is a beautiful thing to do. But you should consider all of the things that you don’t pray for.. this is really worth reflecting on deeply. You should look at what you do pray for and more importantly why. Are you ok? If you trust God so much that everything but the things that you are praying for is happening perfectly, then why do you not also think that what you are praying for is not also perfect and happening as it should? Why are you not trusting that? Because it is affecting you personally and you don’t like it. Let’s be willing to look at this honestly. Do you trust God, can you trust him even when you don’t like what is happening, even if you don’t understand?  Can you be ok? Even Jesus before he was crucified prayed that “may I pass this cup”, but then he surrendered accepted it and said “not my will but thy will”. Can you pray and surrender and trust that everything that is happening is God. God is reality unfolding in pure perfection. 

 

Check it out for yourself:

Michael Singer is a fascinating spiritual teacher. He shares from the heart multiple times per week at his Temple of The Universe in Gainesville Florida. If you want to listen to this discussion for yourself here is the link: Exploring Prayer & Beyond

If you want to learn more about Michael Singer and the Temple of The Universe you can just click on the live links. He has written several books and has been interviewed on many podcasts and YouTube videos.  

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Join me tomorrow, ladies only - sorry fellas

Saturday 2/3/24 - ladies only! 

10 AM EST

Free- OWN IT! For Good! Adventure Club Gathering

 

Your OWN IT! Coach

Felecia