Thank you so much for this post. It certainly resonates! Gratitude is so easy to appreciate at arms length but not so easy to embrace, especially when moving through chronic pain. And that pain can be physical or mental! I'm mostly a silent sufferer, always trying to keep a sunny attitude on the outside, but inside? Not so much! But getting rid of chronic physical pain --which happened to me recently too, rather mysteriously--helped me accelerate the internal gratitude journey a lot. Really hope you continue to feel fulfilled in the gratitude mission!!
I appreciate your honesty here, Natalie. I also try to focus on gratitude, but—like you—it isn't my default setting. I do feel a huge difference in my day when I can get there, though.
Wonderful. 👏🏻 Thx for sharing your innermost ingratitude.
I notice a difference when I'm grateful and when I thank G-d. There's an odd divide and a case to be made for a higher energy controlling everything so it's not my fault.
I know of a young gal who died tragically and when I asked how her mother was doing the response was that she was fine because of her faith in G-d. This is a big fat line I can't imagine and hope I will never see such a day. But I can't grasp this kind of faith.
Hey CK! That's an interesting thought. I'm curious to hear more about the difference in your mind. I'm not sure of what you mean.
Your story of the grieving mother strikes at something deep indeed. I wonder if the sort of faith required to face difficult situations isn't given until it's needed.
There’s feeling grateful— for your health, a new car, whatever. But when you involve G-d in this appreciation, as the creator, the one in charge, it feels different.
There’s definitely a difference between embodied gratitude - as you describe moving on to - over forced gratitude, which you’ve expertly avoided.
One of the reasons this post will be popular is because you relay what so many may have difficulty putting into context. And context is so needed.
I didn’t start practicing daily gratitude until after I’d broke the chronic pain cycle and had my first massive relapse. It came at a time where I realised there were increasing days I felt ok, and some odd days each month where I actually felt good.
It wasn’t until more that a year after that when the severity of what I was left with came down that I realised I wouldn’t press the button. But then my life had opened up a dream way of being and a lot of freedom.
I don’t believe I would’ve got there without what I’d been through. I wouldn’t have done the work. And it’s for that reason I wouldn’t press the button.
And, of course, easier to say when you’re on the other side and you’re not the one living the daily hell.
Thank you so much for this post. It certainly resonates! Gratitude is so easy to appreciate at arms length but not so easy to embrace, especially when moving through chronic pain. And that pain can be physical or mental! I'm mostly a silent sufferer, always trying to keep a sunny attitude on the outside, but inside? Not so much! But getting rid of chronic physical pain --which happened to me recently too, rather mysteriously--helped me accelerate the internal gratitude journey a lot. Really hope you continue to feel fulfilled in the gratitude mission!!
Wishing you much of the same, Diane!
I appreciate your honesty here, Natalie. I also try to focus on gratitude, but—like you—it isn't my default setting. I do feel a huge difference in my day when I can get there, though.
Thanks, Chris! I am glad I’m not the only ungrateful schmuck out there 😆
Wonderful. 👏🏻 Thx for sharing your innermost ingratitude.
I notice a difference when I'm grateful and when I thank G-d. There's an odd divide and a case to be made for a higher energy controlling everything so it's not my fault.
I know of a young gal who died tragically and when I asked how her mother was doing the response was that she was fine because of her faith in G-d. This is a big fat line I can't imagine and hope I will never see such a day. But I can't grasp this kind of faith.
Hey CK! That's an interesting thought. I'm curious to hear more about the difference in your mind. I'm not sure of what you mean.
Your story of the grieving mother strikes at something deep indeed. I wonder if the sort of faith required to face difficult situations isn't given until it's needed.
There’s feeling grateful— for your health, a new car, whatever. But when you involve G-d in this appreciation, as the creator, the one in charge, it feels different.
There’s definitely a difference between embodied gratitude - as you describe moving on to - over forced gratitude, which you’ve expertly avoided.
One of the reasons this post will be popular is because you relay what so many may have difficulty putting into context. And context is so needed.
I didn’t start practicing daily gratitude until after I’d broke the chronic pain cycle and had my first massive relapse. It came at a time where I realised there were increasing days I felt ok, and some odd days each month where I actually felt good.
It wasn’t until more that a year after that when the severity of what I was left with came down that I realised I wouldn’t press the button. But then my life had opened up a dream way of being and a lot of freedom.
I don’t believe I would’ve got there without what I’d been through. I wouldn’t have done the work. And it’s for that reason I wouldn’t press the button.
And, of course, easier to say when you’re on the other side and you’re not the one living the daily hell.