When I Worry
Sometimes I Look for Gratitude and Only Find Worry
I write out my gratitude every night before bed. It is a wonderful routine that usually involves reflecting on my day with a positive lens. There are times when my positive lens doesn’t work or I can’t seem to find it and I end up feeling stressed about all of the things I did or didn’t do that day. Sometimes I start thinking about everything I need to do tomorrow.
Worry about the past and the future is natural but not what I want for my gratitude practice. This is when immersion in the present moment comes in handy. When I feel worry I know that I am not being present.
So what does being present mean? To me, being present is: Using my five senses. Focusing on my breathing or other body processes. Listening without judging. Focusing on the task at hand without mind-wandering. Not explaining, analyzing, thinking about anything. Not reminiscing. Not planning. It is similar to what I do when I am meditating but it can happen any time. For example, when I play music I am almost always being present. When I interact with other people I strive to be present especially when I am listening.
On those days when I am doing my gratitude practice and I find myself worrying, I know that reflecting on my day is not going to work. So, instead of reflecting on my day I will take a moment and be present. I will usually close my eyes, make sure my jaw is relaxed, focus on my breathing and this usually makes me calm and relaxed. At this point I usually become more aware of touch/feeling and sound. I will feel the air on my skin. I will hear sounds that I didn’t notice before. Then I write what I am grateful for due to that presence.
I have started to think about presence as a perfect drug. When I am present I feel good. I am not worried. I am not preoccupied with thoughts of the past or fears of the future. I feel peaceful. I feel comforted. I have escaped and gone to my happy place. So Huey Lewis said “I want a new drug … One that won’t make me nervous … Wonderin’ what to do … One that makes me feel like I feel when I’m with you.” I think he was talking about presence. It really is the perfect “drug”. Go ahead and escape into presence. It is free, accessible whenever we need it, it feels good, and it has no negative side effects.
Gratitude is the ultimate drug! It feels wonderful, is free, legal and has no negative side effects.
~Damaris Pierce
What are you grateful to notice when you immerse yourself in the present moment?
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[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]