It Grabs Hold of You
So seductively it draws you in. It knows that you can’t take your mind off of it. It’s the smart thing to do. It’s the right thing to do. And soon it’s all you think about.
It is the future.
Even in gratitude tomorrow grabs hold. That trip you have planned. That thing that is scaring you that you are trying to find the good in. The deadline. The plan. The goal. The anxiety. The dread. The anticipation. The excitement. So many things that aren’t even real yet except in our minds. Earlier this year I witnessed someone writing about the same thing that they were grateful for day in and day out but it hadn’t even happened yet. Not so much gratitude in anticipation more like anxiety that they were trying to reframe with gratitude.
I have been catching myself in this future gratitude phenomenon too. I have a big trip coming up and I notice myself living there instead of here. There is also something big and scary that has been pulling my attention. Normally my gratitude practice is a break from all of that worry because it brings me into the present but every once in a while my worry tries to sneak into my gratitude. Such as: I am grateful that this will all be over in July.
But we can’t be grateful for something in the future. We can remember that we were grateful in the past. But the feeling of gratitude can only be in the present. What are we missing that is right in front of us? What have we failed to notice because we are following our thoughts into the future? What are we grateful for that is right in front of us in this moment?
You can always cope with the present moment, but you cannot cope with something that is only a mind projection – you cannot cope with the future.
~Eckhart Tolle
You’re not experiencing the future yet so be here now. What are you grateful to experience in this moment?
LEARNING: Some days just burst with gratitude and I had two of those over the weekend. I got out of town for work and for fun. The change of scenery and change of routine was just what I needed. It helped me to be present and through that, gratitude visited again and again.
FORGOTTEN GRATITUDE: Last week I was also grateful for moving my body with my breath … Cota ice tea, healing and delicious … Getting my passport so very quickly.
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/members/antonia/” background=”#eaf62d” color=”#999999″ size=”20″ center=”yes”]Click for Antonia’s Shared Gratitude[/su_button]
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/activity/” background=”#999999″ color=”#eaf62d” size=”20″ center=”yes”]Click to See Our Collective Gratitude[/su_button]
[su_note note_color=”#e7e7e7″ text_color=”#686767″ radius=”0″] My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it! A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide. My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can too. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336. [/su_note]