NEW: "Shakti: Gratitude"

 

A Spirit of Gratitude exults in the glorious beauty of Being. With radiant heart and embracing wings, she expresses deep appreciation for the blessings, challenges, wisdom and mysteries of the Universe. The Gratitude symbol is centered at top. Bouvardia blossoms twine around her, emblems of appreciation and enthusiasm.

"Gratitude: We learn the magical lesson that making the most of what we have turns it into more. Say thank-you til we mean it. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. Denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity...problems into gifts, failures into successes, the unexpected into perfect timing and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes things right. Today, I will shine the transforming light of gratitude on all the circumstances of my life."
                                                                  -Melody Beattie,

                                                        The Language of Letting Go Journal: A Meditation Book and Journal for Daily Reflection

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately - realizing more fully its profound power.

I often find myself stuck in negative thought patterns - worry or frustration or just plain crankiness...but once I become aware that these thoughts are dominating my mind, I can take a step back, widen my perspective, and bring my focus back to the positive things.
I begin to realize that the bad things, scary things, annoying things...they are only a small part of all that there is.  By acknowledging the good as well, I can find some Balance. 

Gratitude can turn a harrowing experience into a valuable lesson that can serve you for the rest of your life.  Gratitude can turn boredom into joy, apathy into enthusiasm, self-pity into motivation.  It is a path that always brings me back to Center - to realize the powerful potential of my own consciousness to shape my own experience, rather than being a victim of my circumstances.


Prints available here:
http://fineartamerica.com/featured/gratitude-cristina-mcallister.html