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“Doing something with the appreciation and opportunities that come our way brings the cultivation of presence and perspective into the service of our lives and life itself. This is how possibility comes to be. Action that emanates from the grounding nature of presence and guiding nature of possibility is necessary in difficult times.”
~ Kristi Nelson, Wake Up Grateful
Over the course of the week, we’ve explored five points of perspective that invite us to look anew, to relish the poignancy and blessing of being alive — even during times of profound uncertainty. These intentional small shifts in perspective reorient us to living more gratefully in the world. They not only center us and help us see what’s around us with renewed clarity and appreciation, they offer — like a finely-tuned compass — guidance for our actions and for the journey ahead. From the foundation of presence and perspective you have created for yourself this week, how will you express and share your grateful heart?
Photo: Jeff Collins
- Here on this final day, we invite you to begin once again with the practice of becoming present through the grateful breathing exercise Kristi Nelson introduced on the first day. Having now paused for this practice each day, we invite you to consider the possibility of carrying this practice forward beyond our week together.
- While the circumstances of our lives may not have changed significantly over the last seven days, we’ve each deepened our capacity to look at our lives and the world with expanded perspective. We invite you to take time to reflect on the following questions: Despite uncertainty, how can I make use of presence and perspective to cultivate greater possibility in my life? How can I make myself more available to the possibilities that might be calling to me?
- On this final day of our practice, what is one action you would like to take to manifest gratefulness in the world? Is it acting in deeper alignment with your personal guiding principles? Is it taking some small action on behalf of the common good? Is it reaching out to a friend whose company gives you joy? Is it simply thanking someone you might take for granted? With renewed presence and perspective, we invite you to consider what is possible. What is one action you can take to live gratefully and wholeheartedly — today?
In Wake Up Grateful, Kristi writes: “Envisioning and investing in new possibilities is how transformation comes about. But how do we step into all the possibility that exists in a moment? We harness our big hearts and go forward with purposeful intention. We say ‘Yes!’ to life.”
Thank you for being part of this practice with us this week and for all the ways you are saying “Yes!” to life even in the hardest moments. We wish each of you every blessing in the days ahead. May they be rich with perspective and abundant with possibility.
As our days of practice come to a close, we would love to hear your reflections below.
Enjoy the full seven-day Wake Up to Perspective practice.
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Thank you very much Kristi for this beautiful and profound journey. I am grateful for being able to name my guiding principles. For me the call is to consciously live from the inner Source of Love and Wisdom, looking for possibilities even in the darkest of experiences. Together we are in a journey of GRATITUDE
Josita – Your reflection is so very beautiful to read. Thank you for sharing the “call” that you hear and heed which guides you toward possibility. Listening to this call of your guiding principles, and seeking what is there for you to find is a sure way toward joy and peace. Thank you for being on this gratefulness journey with us.
Thank you dear Kristi and your team. I feel honored to have been a part of this beautiful practice. So many take aways, especially “Responsibility is a Privilege”. I will make this my mantra today, Thanksgiving Day, as I cook, clean, wash dishes, prepare and cook our holiday dinner. (I do not cook, nor do I like to!). So instead of dreading all that is before me, I choose to look at my responsibilities as a privilege! Thank you kindly & gratefully. Happy Thanksgiving. ❤️🙏
PKR – Thanks for sharing the blessings of this shift in perspective for you! I love it too…seeing my responsibilities as privileges helps me so much to find needed perspective whenever I am feeling beleaguered by life. Enjoy! And thanks for being part of our community. .
As I reflect on how I can make myself more available to the possibilities that may be calling me, the word silence comes to mind. Be in the silence and listen. Stop talking so much, sharing so much, offering so much and listen. Be curious. What is wanted of me at this time? With the precious time I have left, what shall I pay attention to? What direction will I go in? Contain energy and listen. Be still. Be awake and still. No need to rush…….Let the sand settle and the water be clear before you begin to make choices about time. Be in silence and listen……
Thank you Victoria Rose for sharing this gorgeous reflection. Your commitment to deepening your capacity for this inner and outer listening will bring you many gifts and much peace. It is something from which we can all find needed inspiration.
Thank you so much for these inspiring practices. I am trying to be mindful of gratitude for all the people in my life, past, present, and future., and to keep aware that all the people I have known have been my teachers.
Beautiful Liz. I am so glad you have found this practice inspiring. And all power to you in seeing the people and circumstances in your life as your teachers. You will never stop growing and deepening with this perspective…Thanks for your inspiration.
I will seek to listen more to my heart, to hear her voice and follow her truth. Thank you, Kristi, for the blessings of these days. Gratitude. Namaste!
Thanks Mary Jane – Your heart will indeed guide you and never abandon you on your journey. Thank you for your steadfastness on the path, and for listening deeply to your inner guidance. Namaste.
Thank you, dear Kristi, for sharing your precious work and support to help us become aware of the different aspects and to establish gratefulness and resulting possible perspective into our lives so that life itself may flourish through us and beauty, joy and wonder may expand to all around. Unfortunately I could participate only a little due to current intense obligations, while in the mean time I am very happy and full of gratitude for your structured and clear approach and support offered, to which I will come back to. It has helped me already to build some inner structure of how I can intensify gratefulness in my life. Thank you dearly for your inspiring work and your great contribution offered to all of us.
Ose – What a beautiful and very kind comment. Thank you deeply for your commitment to gratefulness practice for so long, and for continually learning and absorbing the teachings. It is so meaningful to have you with us. Thank you from my heart.
If I think only of this sentence: “during times of profound uncertainty” is paralyzing. Makes me feel almost terrified. But is necessary to be strong and to believe.
Exploring the points of perspective, I can use of presence and perspective of grateful living in order to be courageous.I’m going to reinforce my presence and my gratitude, remembering me to breathe and pause.Thank you so much!
Fraternal hug with grateful heart
Dear Cintia – In so many ways, as long as we are alive, times are always profoundly uncertain. Everything is surprise, according to Br David. Finding trust and ease in surrendering to the truth of uncertainty is among our greatest freedoms. And it is a moment to moment practice. You might find benefit in this piece I wrote: https://gratefulness.org/blog/deepening-comfort-with-uncertainty/ Sending love and care into your days…
I am SO grateful to you, Kristy for having this workshop.
It has opened my eyes ,my sense, and heart.
As you said on the first day:
Stop: …be present
Look… have perspectives
Go…seek possibilities
And, I am going to infuse, somehow, these pillars in my life.
Just mentioning them, make me more aware of the world around me!!! and experience good feelings!!!!!!!!
To show gratefulness to the world.. I placed a call to a dear friend with whom we have not talked for along time. I left a voice message. I hope she calls me back . i truly wants to talk to her… Again, my gratitude you and your team.
This is such an uplifting reflection Mandy! How fabulous that you already feel the gifts of the Stop. Look. Go. practice and that it reverberates through you! I hope that you continue to show gratefulness to the world by reaching out to dear friends in this spirit. Thank you.
Thank you. The stop/look-breathe/go practice has helped reframe my day. And I loved the opportunities to privileges exercise. Again, a reframe to that which is deeper, that which is real. Thank you.
Karleen – How wonderful that you have already received the benefit of the practices. May they serve you in ever-surprising and increasingly meaningful ways!
Thank-you, Kristi, and thanks to all the staff. I am so thankful for the richness of these teachings and the power of presence moment awareness to awaken us to gratefulness and reality. Love and blessings to you all.
Thank YOU Miguelie for your presence in and contributions to our community. It is very meaningful to have your generous spirit here.