One day when I was feeling agitated, my mind restless with worry and complaints, I went for a walk and asked, in a walking prayer, for guidance. The much needed suggestion that came to me was:
Listen
Admire
Give Thanks
& Bless
Each of these words offers a practice that helps bring us back into the full graciousness of the present moment.
To listen is to get quiet, give your weary mind a rest from all the nagging thoughts, be open for guidance and deeper wisdom, and to become spacious. I find that a solitary walk is one of the best ways for me to do this. Meditation and contemplative reading also help.
To admire is to focus on and rejoice in all that is good and beautiful and abundant and true. Imagine that you are looking through a camera- look for colors, textures and loving details, action shots, smiling portraits, expressions of humor, passion, tenderness and joy.
To give thanks is to channel the flowing energy of gratitude and prosperity back into your life. Give thanks for all you admire. Give thanks for the gifts you so often take for granted. Give thanks for the people in your life and all that they have to teach you. Give thanks for your socks – just give thanks. A lot.
And to Bless is to become an active, loving, unselfish, generous, caring, compassionate, and Joyful participant in the big world. Through blessings we invoke light and love and goodness. We bless through our work, our art, our words, and our intentions. This is a million times more useful than complaining, helping us to reclaim joy and restore a balance of peace and love to the world.
Try it for yourself. Listen. Admire. Give Thanks, and Bless.
Ingrid,
) because I so believe in the power of blessing others to transform us … to open our heart … to soften us. Blessings benefit both the sender and the receiver. Don’t you agree?
Your words here are just so lovely. What a beautiful “formula” you have put together for our consideration. I especially love the practice of blessing. I have written much about this over the years. I sign all of my emails with blessings (and effuse them with such before I send them off
All Love, Jan
Jan, I ABSOLUTELY agree! I like to sign many of my correspondences with blessings as well. In an earlier article I write about ten thousand daily blessings, which is what I realized was nearly the numbr of breaths I am blessed with every day. Makes my heart sing.
Hi Ingrid,
Say, I tried to list your blog on my blogroll so others could find you too, but no luck. When I typed in your url into my template, it always comes up with an error–even when I actually copy it into my browser. Do you know what could be up with that???
Love your blog. Love your work. I do wish I could travel to the N.E. US in the summer and meet up with you at a fair. Sounds delightful!
Oh, yes the Waterhouse images you use happen to be my absolute faves!
Blessings,
Jan
Such good points to remember throughout our daily lives. Things can get so hectic and it’s wonderful to take a moment of peace to listen, admire, give thanks, and blessings.
any words for someone who has lost her way? I’m a former yoga teacher who used to delight in all of the above; i used to be able to say my heart sang and truly feel it. I used to share insights of love and compassion, forgiveness and peace, but I don’t believe it any more. My faith is gone.
Oh beautiful soul! You sound as if your heart has been broken and needs some time to allow light back in… I wish I knew the perfect words… are they patience? Self-compassion? Vision? forgiveness? Love yourself, be gentle and tender… guard your thoughts… what are you believing these days? Does it nurture you? I’ve had my own dark nights…and come out with a self-compassion and gentleness toward myself and the world… and an awareness that my own mind can be my biggest, nagginest challenge. The imagination holds such great power, and is such a divine gift. I’d love to send you presents… if this would be a comfort…sometimes it just takes time, rest,listening, stillness, sometimes we need permission to be our radiant selves….