November, 2012

 

Giving Thanks Never Grows Stale or Out of Style

  

Greetings!

 

Despite news to the contrary, many delights in life are free and do not require money. Giving thanks, experiencing gratitude, cultivating appreciation are three perfect examples of free and timeless activities. When November arrives, without a wobble, the subject of Thanksgiving and the myriad ways we are blessed fills my awareness. Moments when I feel so full of gratitude that my body will explode, I remember that gratitude is not about holding to the feeling, but opening to the sacredness of life. Nothing goes out of style or becomes stale in the sacred practice of thanksgiving, both a noun and verb. 

 

Countless books, programs, and workshops on topics like positive psychology, appreciative inquiry and the power of positive thinking are available to support development. They might be an opportunity to consider. But for now, let's keep it simple. For now, gain the unobstructed knowing that gratitude is available every moment, regardless of the situation. Yes, every moment, even if the situation appears seemingly dire.

 

Just to be clear, we are not exploring the Polly Anna perspective or the glass half-full; I'm asking you to tap into the reality of life, even when the "sh..." is hitting the fan and all hell is breaking loose. My current challenges: son trying to complete college applications, a father in life/health transition, too much work on my plate, too much stuff in my basement, power outages and generator faults during the recent storm... (Note to self, are you kidding me? These statements are humiliatingly absurd.) Try something more compelling. My mind immediately goes to the victims in New York and New Jersey of Hurricane Sandy. Much more relevant. For those in the midst of recovering from this natural disaster, what is available to be grateful for - surviving, gaining perspective on life, meaningful relationships, a good homeowner's policy (not trying to be funny - pointing to all of the possibilities). Yes, this is much more real. Beyond the individual to the collective. Gratitude breaks hearts, softens presence and gives space to every situation with greater compassion and wisdom. For your own development and for the benefit of others, let's practice an activity RIGHT NOW:

 

GIVING THANKS: To whom or what would you like to express thanks? (Breathe and allow the first person or situation that comes to mind to be your choice) How would you like to express thanks? (Phone, text, e-mail, letter, in person ...) Do it.

 

EXPERIENCING GRATITUDE: Are you familiar with your unique experience of gratitude? If so, let that experience saturate your body and mind right now. If not, recall the previous activity of giving thanks and tune in to your body sensations. What do you notice and where is that sensation located? For example, your heart might feel spacious and open; or, you might have streaming bubbles in your torso; or you might have a sense of lightness and energy all over. Get familiar with your unique gratitude experience.

 

CULTIVATING APPRECIATION: Magnify (intensify) the places in your body that signal your gratitude. Allow this body experience to be a marker for your gratitude progress. Commit to living in a state of deep appreciation.  

 

Thank you for supporting the practice of giving thanks for me, for others, for all.

 

With deep gratitude,   

In This Issue
This Month's Article: "Retirement...An Invitation to be Well Used"
This Month's MoneyMoves® TeleConnection
Be Moved...
Be Inspired...
 
5-Minute TRY It 
Awareness Expansion, with Gratitude
 
Note: Set an intention to steep in gratitude and offer blessings to the world.

Minute one: Begin standing rooted to the floor and paying attention to the interior of your body - thoughts, feelings and sensations. Bow your head in gratitude.

Minute two: Expand your awareness to the space in your room. Pay attention to your body AND the area in the room. Feel gratitude.

Minute three: Expand your awareness to "outside" and the local area in which you reside. Give your attention to your body, your present environment AND the space in your local. Relax your mind and send blessings to every being in your state.

Minute four: Expand your awareness to the northern hemisphere. Give your attention to your body, your present environment, your local area AND north America. Relax and open; send blessings to all beings in North America.

Minute five: Expand your awareness to infinity including our planet and the solar system. Give your attention to space, including your body, your room, your local area, and North America. Send blessings.

Complete your practice by blessing all beings and sustaining expanded awareness. Deep bow. 
 

Retirement:

An Invitation to be Well Used

 

One of the most misused, misunderstood, mistaken subjects in the field of financial planning is retirement. I recall early in my career that retirement was (still is) one of the six financial planning issues included in a typical comprehensive financial plan. Don't get me wrong, retirement, or the underlying motivation - financial freedom to make choices - is important to consider. But as I embarked on this amazing ever-changing career, wanting to deeply understand the essence of retirement, I began with the dictionary which told me that retirement was (still is): "to withdraw, be secluded, removal or withdrawal from service, office or business." Really? Who wants that? Of the hundreds of clients I have worked with over the years, no one has ever said they wanted to withdraw from life and be secluded. Most, if not all of them, want to be fully engaged.

 

 
Please join me for our next 

MoneyMoves� 
TeleConnection!
 
Our topic will be:
"Retirement":  The Big Myth


For more on our topic this month, check out the above article, Retirement: an Invitation to be Well Used on my website.

Monday, November 12th
8pm-9pm EST

The call-in information will be emailed to you.
 

*NEW!*

Women's Wealth Salon

 

Curious about exploring wealth and money matters in your life?

Join me for an engaging dialogue and exploration with other women about wealth in all forms, including money. Experience the depth and support of a wisdom circle guided by my expertise, motivation and intention to liberate women and money matters.

The Women's Wealth Salon is an opportunity to connect and share, in a safe, nurturing circle of women, your questions and challenges around wealth and money.

 

Mondays: November 19th & December 17th 6:30-8:30pm

 

Location: Samadhi, 796 Beacon St, Newton MA

 

 
Be Moved

 

 

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present 

and not giving it.

 

 

~ William Arthur Ward

 

 
Be Inspired
Appreciation is My Bag
(downloadable PDF)
Gratitude From the Inside Out
MoneyMoves� Quest
Card Set & Online Game
moneymovescards
Special Price:  $25 through Thanksgiving!
Click Here to Begin Your Quest!
 
 

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