Blog Alan Seale, Nov 25, 2019 | Intentional Living
This week, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States—a time to pause and reflect on the blessings of life and say “thank you.” As I reflect on all that I am grateful for, I am reminded that gratitude is a choice. In fact, so are love, compassion, acceptance, understanding, and a host of other “attitudes.” We can choose how we will meet the opportunities and challenges of our lives.
For the last several months, I have consciously chosen to practice walking in love. I imagine that love is the ground on which I stand—the ground beneath my feet as I walk. In particular situations, I may choose to walk in compassions, acceptance, or appreciation. In other words, I’ve been practicing making a conscious choice about the “attitude ground” I will stand in.
Choosing to stand in love or gratitude doesn’t mean to deny or avoid conflicting thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Fear, anger, resistance, or doubt may also be very present. It’s not about pushing those feelings or thoughts away. Instead, it’s about choosing the attitude or energy in which I will stand in order to be present with those thoughts and feelings, and to work with them in supportive and constructive ways. It’s been an incredibly empowering practice.
Each month there is a community call for graduates of the TPLC* and TPLA* programs. For this month’s call, I created an exercise for us to explore this idea. The responses from participants were powerful and illuminating.
In the 11-minute video below, I share this exercise with you. Let the video help you recognize the attitude ground that will best serve you right now.
Gratitude and Thanksgiving as a Way of Life
I wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.
* TPLC and TPLA are the “Transformational Presence for Leaders and Coaches” and “Transformational Presence Leadership in Action” programs.