Gratitude will change your life!

Sun on the horizon.

It’s easy to be grateful for the good things in life, and when life’s events make us happy. But what of the hardships, the tragedies, the losses? Are we to be grateful for the unhappiness they bring, too? Well, no, not for feeling unhappy, but for having the unhappy feeling. It’s a fine line, I know. I’ll try and explain.

I’ve just completed a thought provoking book entitled “Make Miracles in Forty Days: Turning What You Have Into What You Want” by noted recovery expert Melody Beattie. In it she describes Project Miracle, a daily 10 minute exercise that allows one to perform their own “miracles” in their lives.

First, let’s define what a miracle is. This is taken from Melody’s introduction -

“A miracle is something that happens that we couldn’t control, create, conceive, or do on our own – whether by using willpower, strength, spirituality, skills, money, or any and all resources available to us. Miracles aren’t supernatural. They’re how Life naturally responds when we practice universal laws, the unwritten rules governing nature, the human psyche, people, spirituality, and the world. No limits exist as to how many or what size miracles we can create. We can make miracles for almost any situation – overwhelming, large, medium, or small. No age limitations exist. Anyone can begin making miracles now.”

“The only qualification for it to be a miracle is that the problem or situation we want changed is beyond our ability to control or fix on our own.”

I won’t go into the process of Project Miracle here; I couldn’t do it justice. You’ll have to read the book. But I can give you an overview of what to expect.

You’ve probably aware of the benefits of keeping a daily gratitude journal. It helps remind us that we all have something in life to be grateful for. Very important in our quest for a happy life. Project Miracle takes journal-ling a step further. By doing the exercise, we’re able to learn to accept the challenges that come into our lives.

Remember that everybody experiences pain and loss in their lives. Everyone. You’re not alone. Some people have learned to handle it better than others. And Melody Beattie’s model can help you handle them better, too.

In 6 weeks (more or less), one can turn denial into acceptance, resistance into flow. You don’t become grateful for the pain you experience, but for the ability to feel the pain. It is this realization that can free one to rise above the pain, and learn to focus on the Mystery that is Life!

The Miracle Exercise (Project Miracle) will change your perception of events and circumstances. Do you have grudges, anger, bitterness? You’ll learn forgiveness. And unforgiving can be the biggest barrier to experiencing joy. Do you want change in your life? Here’s Melody again with what to expect -

“I can’t promise you’ll get everything you want, even if you do the exercise perfectly. But if you do the Miracle Exercise the best you’re able, you and your life will change.”

“This exercise will transform you and your life. Changes will happen in and around you, and may rub off on the people you love. I can’t predict what those changes will be. Neither can you. But I can almost guarantee you’ll begin to deeply cherish the moments of your life. You’ll know it’s the perfect life for you. A simple practice taking ten minutes a day can become for you what it is for me: a leading, guiding light.”

It’s about becoming grateful for everything in your life, this thing Melody Beattie refers to as the “Mystery”. And her assertion that we can change how we feel about what happens to us, begins to shed some light on the quote I have above by Albert Schweitzer -

“The greatest thing is to give thanks for everything. He who has learned this knows what it means to live. He has penetrated the whole mystery of life: giving thanks for everything.”

It’s an exercise I’m going to begin myself. You can do it alone, or with a trusted friend. (There is power in doing it with someone else; Melody explains this, and how to pick a partner.) I may share my progress in a future post.

Life is all about growth, my friend. And about learning. If you have any unresolved issue(s) in your life, I urge you to read “Miracle in Forty Days”. You may find it at your local library, like I did. Or visit our Books link above. It’s yet another step in learning to be grateful, forgiving, and appreciating this miracle we call Life. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading. If you care to comment on this post, please click the comments link above the article.