Graciously Receiving the Gifts of the Universe

    We are constantly being gifted with a variety of good things on many levels. Some of the gifts are subtle and others are very obvious. Interestingly, I have observed that often we are focused on what is lacking which actually creates more lack. Therefore, the obvious simple solution is to focus on what IS instead of what ISN’T! This promotes more abundance and a consistent flow of the good in our lives. Focusing on the good with gratitude for the many blessings continues that flow. I’m sure those of you who are ‘Feng Shui savvy’ or Reiki practitioners know how important the flow of life force is for a healthy, happy and balanced life.
    First, it is important to recognize the good things in our life when they come our way. Recognition of what is right in front of us and being grateful for it in our lives is such a big thing in this process of Graciously Receiving the Gifts of the Universe. It reminds me of a scene in the movie, Shrek, which actually had many teachings throughout the movie. Anyway, the scene is when Shrek decides he will go talk with Lord Farquat in order to get all the Fairy Tale creatures off of his land. He needs help finding his way to Lord Farquat, and he asks if anyone knows the way. The Donkey, one of my favorite characters, jumps up and down and repeatedly calls out “Pick me! Pick me!” Sometimes the help we need or the people we choose, as significant friends/others may not LOOK like we think they should. But as we continue to pay attention to the many clues around us, perhaps we will come to realize that a gift of the Universe is being presented and it is time to graciously receive it! This point is driven home throughout this movie, as Shrek realizes he is worthy of Princess Fiona and the Princess realizes she is worthy of Shrek. Hey, I am a romantic and love fairy tales, so this movie has become one of my favorites! Stories and story telling are a great way to teach and learn.
    Secondly, it is important to be in a place of allowing. As you probably already know, abundance isn’t only material wealth and success. The greatest abundance is having love and spiritual connection. And we still need material abundance to live well on Planet Earth. We can actually block receiving the gifts that are being presented to us. Often the greatest block is fear. Once we recognize it is fear that is blocking us, we can choose to feel the fear and move forward through it. We have a book here, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway” by Susan Jeffers, which goes deeper into moving through our fears and living life fully. When we focus on receiving what it is we want instead of focusing on what we do not have it opens us to allowing it (whatever ‘it’ is) to become part of our lives. Even using the word ‘allowing’ in your affirmations and thoughts sets up the energetic vibration to receive.
    Thirdly, it is important to appreciate and be grateful for what we already do have in our lives. Perhaps we take some things for granted? I believe that acknowledging the many blessings we have in our lives and feeling genuine gratitude for those blessings keeps those blessings coming. For example, with every check I write, I maintain a sense of gratitude that there is money in that checking account by writing Thank You! over my signature on every check that I write. I am thanking God and the Universe and it also makes the person receiving the check feel quite good too!
    Simply thanking people, places and things for their presence and their help is part of being gracious. When we receive a present from someone, we graciously receive it and say thank you. When we’ve been to a friend’s home for a dinner party, we call the next day and say thank you. When someone holds open a door for us, we smile and say thank you. When someone allows you into a lane in traffic and lets you get ahead of them, we smile, wave and acknowledge their kindness. As we continue to be gracious in the many things that we receive in life, more of those good things will continually flow through. Being gracious is one of the tools.
    I graciously thank you for allowing me the opportunity to share my thoughts, feelings and beliefs with you in this newsletter each month. It does me a lot of good!

Thank YOU!

Margaret