Cultivating Gratitude for Success

"Live life to the fullest and express appreciation and gratitude. Every day is a chance to succeed, feel blessed, and be grateful to live."

What does it feel like to live in a chaotic world and always remain positive? How can we say thank you in times of difficulty? How can we be grateful for life if we suffer from frustrations and pain?

Life could have been better if we all experienced the goodness it offers, but it is more challenging than we think. Life simply means sharing the good and the wrong things, the ups and downs—the life cycle. Sometimes, life may not be fair to us, but fairness happens when we all share the same misery even once in our lives.

THE KEY TO ABUNDANCE

Being thankful no matter what situation we are experiencing will give us the power to receive abundance. Gratitude is a way of appreciating and recognizing the blessings that come into our lives— bigger or smaller.

We should be grateful for good health, happy families, success, and fulfilled living. Likewise, be thankful for things that make your work easier. Also, friends you can depend on and family that supports you all the way are the reasons that make you feel grateful. For instance, the ability to see the beauty of nature, the taste of a delicious meal, the sound of laughter, or the feeling of a warm embrace are all things for which we can be grateful.

Cultivating gratitude means improving or training ourselves to become grateful in everything. Awareness of what is abundant in our lives is the key to happiness. For instance, a hug from loved ones, a bright and sunny day, a smile from a friend or stranger, and love and support from family and friends can be a source of gratitude.

BEING GRATEFUL FOR LIFE

Eventually, we'll realize that even the most minor things we often take for granted could have been an excellent opportunity to express our gratitude. Sometimes, we are thankful for the good things we received but do not express gratitude for the not-so-good things in life. We need to fully understand its implications as to why we have to suffer or what lessons we can learn from it. We only give thanks for what is 'seen' compared to what is 'hidden'—objective expression versus subjective realization. The latter is the source of genuine happiness and contentment.

I have dealt with people who are physically ill and those who consider themselves balanced in all life aspects. They may have opposite views in life, but illness could be a way for someone to realize how abundant his life must be, only if he is keen and aware of it. 

Through the lens of gratitude, even physical illness can become a catalyst for personal growth. It can lead us to shed bad habits and outdated beliefs and transform us into more spiritual and humanitarian individuals. This transformation can bring a sense of wholeness and balance that we may have been seeking. 

Indeed, gratitude is a life-saving force. Once uttered, it is an energy that can give us relief and the power to experience and express abundance. Life is supposed to be filled with gratitude since the world would become dull, unproductive, and not alive without it. It is with gratitude that we experience authentic living. It is in appreciation that we experience true satisfaction.

LESSON ABOUT GRATITUDE

Daily is an excellent way to express gratitude for whatever we have accomplished or what we could offer or contribute. When we activate the powerful universal law of attraction through gratitude, we attract more positive experiences and opportunities, for which we can be grateful. 

Never chase more of what is not in sight, but rather be grateful for what is already there. Also, we can appreciate what we can do more than what we cannot.

I could be better, and sometimes I complain if bad situations arise. However, I keep myself back on the right track if my perspective can do more harm than good. Then, I activate the power of gratitude, shifting our focus from what we lack to what we have, and everything becomes normal again. 

We can learn to be more grateful for life and remember that we are blessed with the people so dear to us and in almost all circumstances that life may bring. Live your life to the fullest and express appreciation and gratitude. Every day is a chance to succeed, feel blessed, and be grateful for life.

© 2012 Del Cusay

Getting Ahead of Life's Adversities

"Life is full of challenges, and we must face them with courage and acceptance. Every day is a learning experience, and we become the person that we can be through the test of time—getting way ahead of adversities."

How do we deal with difficulties in life? In today's world, we confront several nuisances or blockages that prevent us from moving forward. Some would have rationalized this event as undeserving despite being good.

Adversities come in different forms. They could include losing loved ones, failed relationships, financial problems, natural and man-made disasters, etc. How we interpret these things relates to our beliefs and values. Acknowledging them helps us better prepare ourselves to take the best actions in anticipation of future unexpected occurrences.

A BLESSING IN DISGUISE

Whether we like it or not, we will be facing adversities that teach us valuable lessons, and challenges continue to happen until it's learned. Sometimes, we have to experience bad things to show our best. And to teach us better ways to live and become more responsible.

We shall experience the benefits after we recognize these blessings. Some would resist, but it is wiser to accept them with absolute faith and believe that blessings will come at any moment.

If sacrifice is one of the keys to a good living, great things come when we endure and persevere through life's challenges. It is in hardship that we learn to grow up and become wiser. It only takes courage to rise and face life with gratitude.

A VALUABLE LESSON

Adversity teaches us the value of humility and that life is not all about prosperity. Sometimes, we need to change ourselves for the better. It brings good results by highlighting our responsibility and integrity.

If we observe closely every time we face adversity, we become stronger and more resilient. The moment we encounter the same problem, we already know how to deal with it; this time, we become wiser and more emotionally intelligent.

We experience painful emotions, but eventually, they will subside in due time, and we collect these pieces of painful memory and learn to move forward from grief and pain.

Life indeed presents tough challenges as a lesson, but they should not be viewed as a hindrance. However, it depends on how we view adversity, whether negative or positive. Repeated adversity would mean an unlearned life lesson, so it keeps returning until learned.

Life is full of challenges; we must face them with courage and acceptance. Every day is a learning experience, and we become the person we can be through the test of time—getting way ahead of adversities.

© 2012 Del Cusay

Holy Week 2012 : Leading us To Jesus

"We have our battle in life, and like Jesus, we carry our cross daily. It is for us to take it or to give up; to move forward or surrender; to follow or redirect."

The 40-day Lenten season, a profound and significant period among Christians worldwide, holds a weight of importance that transcends time. The final week of the season, leading up to Easter Sunday, is a sacred time, a celebration of the Holy Week that commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We celebrate the most important events during Holy Week, such as Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Black Saturday. These are all celebrations by devout Christians who reflect on Jesus's life and death. 

Holy Week is a time of repentance, a concept that goes beyond mere sorrow for our sins. Repentance involves a profound change in our thinking, actions, and visions. It's a time to reflect on our lives, acknowledge our shortcomings, and make a conscious effort to change for the better. It's about turning away from our past mistakes and moving towards a more righteous path. 

It's good to repent, as it gives the feeling of being a renewed person—someone complete and whole. What I have learned about repentance is the act of humility, acknowledging that I have sinned, and asking for forgiveness. 

Renewal brings with it a courage that empowers us to face the world with selfless love and compassion. We extend our service to those in need without expecting anything in return. This selfless act makes us more Christ-like, embodying the true message of Lent.

We may live in today's world full of material aspirations and worldly ambitions. But it is good to ponder what is necessary in life and what is our true life purpose. It's not only material possessions; it is not just daily survival; it is through following the right path and what God has commanded us to do. 

St. Peter's Church, located in Bandra (West), Mumbai, is a place of spiritual significance for many Christians. It is a place where the Lenten season is observed with reverence and devotion and where the teachings of Jesus Christ are celebrated and reflected upon.

The season of Lent is not just about repentance, praying, and fasting. It's also the season of sacrifice. Like Jesus, He suffered the consequence of being upright and moral, and in the end, was sentenced to death. We can also sacrifice condemnation for being righteous. We can persevere in humiliation. We can endure persecution. However, in the end, what matters is the sense of righteousness we have chosen that leads to fulfillment in life.

We can compare the struggle of Jesus in today's modern world by becoming more courageous in speaking for ourselves. Jesus did righteousness even though he knew his life led Him to persecution. He never got scared of the people in authority. Like us, we can stand up for what we believe is right. We can be ourselves if we live a good life and sacrifice for the common good. We have our battle in life; like Jesus, we carry our cross daily. It is for us to take it or give up. To move forward or surrender. To follow or redirect.

© 2012 Del Cusay