Gratitude For Openings

My journey has been so challenging lately. I wish the Openings before me were not as numerous as they are and that I could rest for a while. Be grateful for them? Really?!

Sometimes Gratitude Is A Stretch

Gratitude is given as the answer to many inquiries regarding living a good life. We are told gratitude opens our hearts, puts things in a positive perspective and shifts negative feelings we may have. Gratitude has been shown to improve physical and psychological health. It can enhance our self-esteem and increase our mental strength.

Sounds perfect? Sure, the idea of having gratitude has its benefits. But life goes up and down, with good times and bad, and sometimes gratitude is a stretch. In the midst of challenge, gratitude can be hard to access. It is important that we allow ourselves to feel our emotions and not push them away by saying we are grateful, before we have processed them.

There is a way to handle this. Our emotions matter and usually reflect our concerns about whatever is happening. We need to give them time and attention and to allow them their voice. Once we are in touch with our emotions, then gratitude can take its place. We can assess what is happening and identify the good we see in it. We can always find something to be grateful for.

What Are Openings For?

Openings create movement in our journeys. They are invitations to go somewhere new. They may come in the form of an insight, a dramatic change, a person we meet, an expansion or contraction in our life or a new opportunity. Choosing to go through an Opening involves movement and growth.

Although some Openings can be challenging, that is the nature of our journeys – we cannot avoid change. Openings offer change – we can say no or yes to them. We are not forced through Openings, it is our choice. For this alone, we can be grateful. They are opportunities for something better. They tell us about ourselves. They open new vistas. They ask us to grow. They prevent us from stagnating. Many times, they offer adventure, excitement and new beginnings. They can be refreshing.