Kristin Larsen

The Blessings In Life

When we see the blessings in life, what allows us to see them?

If our focus is fixated on what we don’t have, what we don’t want, what is not aligning with our vision of possibility, what do we see?

If joy is overlooked in our lived moments, what is it being replaced with instead?

If our perspective is based on evaluating negative and positive outcomes, where do we miss seeing the blessings in life?

If love is our greatest fundamental value for well-being, what will bring us back to nurture its value?

If our intention is not held with conviction, what are we holding that is more important?

If living with an energy of connection is not chosen, what energy are we choosing?

If we believe that blessings happen only when we are worthy to receive them, when do we see them?

If gratitude is left unacknowledged, what takes its place to validate life’s experiences?

If our faith weakens, what happens to the perception of our world?

If being in a state of presence becomes unanchored, what happens to the details of our attention?

The Practice

What is the practice of seeing the blessings in life?

It starts with slowing down to appreciate. How we choose to appreciate is the repeatable practice.

It might be through actions such as acknowledging daily gratitude, journaling, meditation, and consciously reflecting more deeply into the challenges we face to uncover lessons or learning.

Maybe people don’t have the opportunity to see blessings in life because the repeated patterns disrupt how we function internally. Just like any habit, seeing the blessings requires discipline to repeat and create.

We may not know or understand;

  • How to embrace resilience
  • How to be present with our emotions
  • When to slow down
  • When to reframe and reflect

What prevents us from seeing the blessings in life?

It might seem ordinary to be distracted and consumed by our challenges and our suffering. To allow ourselves to think and feel isolated and alone.

Among these reasons are internal survival strategies that influence how we choose to think and feel in that state of being.

It is the misaligned choices of presence and connection that take us further from what we really want. They continue to keep us stuck and feeling unfulfilled.

Real life examples of seeing the blessings in life

Thankyou for…. or I am grateful for…..

I am grateful for the shelter over my head.

I am grateful for the food I have to nourish me.

I am grateful for my life today.

I am grateful for my breath in this moment.

I am grateful for the water available to me.

I am grateful for the functioning of my body.

I am grateful for the challenges I have overcome.

I am grateful for my family and friends.

I am grateful for moments of connection.

I am grateful for the lessons I have learned in my life.

I am grateful for the lessons I have yet to learn.

I am grateful for unexpected moments of pause.

I am grateful for the time I can rest my body and mind.

I am grateful for the kindness of others.

I am grateful for the opportunity to give and receive.

I am grateful for the availability of peace and calm whenever I want it.

I am grateful for the sunrise and sunset.

I am grateful for compassion.

I am grateful for the expression of love and caring.

I am grateful for having choices.

I am grateful for my faith.

I am grateful for infinite blessings.

What blessings do you see in your life today?

How we choose to see the blessings in life transforms our state of being. It is not forced or coerced into something imagined. It is real because it is honest. A true reflection of appreciation for the intricate mache of details in our life.

In the darkness, I get to see the light within myself. For that, I am truly grateful.

Awakening From Sleep Walking Through Life

Bringing back feelings from being numb in life

Everyday stress and suffering over time becomes a self defense of numbness that is carried
around each day.

It may feel like, “always going through the motions in life.”
Not wanting to feel the hurtful or painful feelings. It pushes away the other emotions that are
wanting to be experienced. The joy, the gratitude, the possibility, the wonder within each day.

It is extraordinary how a perspective shifts that numbness. Refocusing on what brings life and
energy into each moment.
It no longer feels like things are “going through the motions.”
There is a purpose and commitment to feel again. A revitalized awakening that slowly opens
vision to exciting possibilities.
The realization that intention must be focused on the thoughts which demand attention to be
experienced.

The emotions need to be processed, acknowledged and accepted. A gentle handling without
judgement. An openness to refrain from judging the judgement of the emotions. Shame and
guilt are not wrong. They are sending me a message to uncover what they are trying to tell me.

Offering the choice to let go of suffering

The one small step of being in the presence of thought and emotion begins to shift perspective.
The soul wants to wake up.

It wants to be seen, it wants to be heard.
It is waiting for permission.
Each passing day that the soul is asleep, it becomes restless.
Continually trying to attract attention.

All the soul truly wants is to be reunited with the heart. To be guided in life with connected trust and courage.

Break the continual pattern of numbing out in an attempt to feel better through extreme
satiations that fill the void.
Binge watching, screen scrolling, addiction choosing activities to quiet the mind and avoid
feeling.
Fear of the attempt to break free from the safe space that has been established.
Curiosity and self discovery await a committed focus.

Begin to explore the questions,

“What wants to be acknowledged?”

“What part of me wants to be heard?”

“What would I rather be experiencing instead?”

“What do I need, what is required of me?”

Let my soul awaken from it’s slumber.

Let it breathe the fullness of being alive again.
Let the healing begin.
Let the unravelling be revealed.
Allow the transformation to unfold within.
May I see the vibrant colors of life.
May I be grateful for this moment I chose to see.

The Gratitude Formula

Feeling Joy and Inner Peace with the Gratitude Formula

How a person is choosing to show up for themselves in their life could be directly related to their mental health which could also affect how they perceive things in their life.

Mental health can most often be a perception of their happiness.

This is attributed to the thoughts and emotions being constructed from the reactions and interpretations of what is occurring.

Gratitude is not the only thing that alleviates mental health functioning, but it is an important piece of the formula to experience joy and inner peace.

Gratitude is one attribute that promotes positivity with thankfulness. It places perspective on emotions that focus on accepting events, situations, people and things as blessings as opposed to dwelling on the negative thoughts or experiences.

Any type of new process takes time to implement or adjust to. That is the same with living with daily gratitude. Making it part of a daily routine requires patience before seeing or feeling it’s immediate results.

Studies have shown that it has a psychological effect, almost like re-wiring the brain.

It is re-wiring the brain to see the goodness in life by placing focus on it. People begin to notice that the source of the “goodness” in their life is not just external.

Through gratitude there is a connection to something greater than ourselves.

To think that gratitude can help to feel positive emotions, savor experiences, improve mental health, develop adversity, connect in relationships, it is hard to imagine why someone would not commit to a daily practice of gratitude.

However, with any habit, lies resistance or reluctance to follow through for change to occur.

A simple process helps with making it a consistent habit

Writing or saying one thing you are grateful for each day for 30 days is one way to start living into it.

There are many ways to express gratitude

  • Thankful for past memories or blessings during any time period of your life
  • Thankful for the present experiences, moments, situations in your life
  • Thankful for the future of hope, optimistic outlooks of what could be

Through my life journey I have realized the Gratitude Formula that works for me.

My Gratitude Formula

Acceptance + Acknowledge + Giving & Receiving + Curiosity + Wonder = Love, Connection, Joy

= GRATITUDE

Acceptance means appreciating the situations for what they are in the moment. What they are showing, teaching about life, others and myself.

Acknowledge means expressing the blessings wholeheartedly. The simple things that give joy for living each day.

Giving & Receiving means being open to allow the exchange of abundant appreciation.

Curiosity means continuously committed to being a student in life with expansion to learn, grow and transform in thoughtful connection.

Wonder means having captivation be visible in everything around you. The awe of how things came to be.

Knowing the benefits of gratitude is just the beginning.

If you started your day, everyday with focus on what you have instead of what you don’t or what you feel you are lacking, how might that change your approach in life?

What would you be letting go of?

What would surrendering to inner peace give you or others?

What would you be creating?

Gratitude is a powerful way of “being” which is a key ingredient to live with contentment, inner peace, and glowing elation.

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