Gratefulness Happens Before Thinking
El agradecimiento ocurre antes de pensar--por el hermano David Steindl-Rast
¿Mi visión del mundo? ¿Mi esperanza para el futuro? Este tema suena un poco grande. Permítanme empezar poco a poco, digamos con los cuervos. Son mis amigos especiales. Mientras escribo estas líneas, uno de ellos, el tímido de mis tres invitados habituales, está devorando los Kitty Fritters que les he preparado. Esto me recuerda un breve poema de Robert Frost que podría proporcionar un trampolín para nuestras deliberaciones sobre la visión del mundo y la esperanza para el futuro, si es que hay alguna.
La forma en que un cuervo
Me sacudió
El polvo de nieve
De un árbol de cicuta
Le ha dado a mi corazón
Un cambio de humor
Y ha salvado una parte
De un día había lamentado.
Seguramente recordarás una experiencia similar: algún pequeño incidente peculiar te hizo sonreír, cambió tu estado de ánimo y, de repente, el mundo parecía más brillante. Si alguna vez te ha pasado esto, la clave para comprender una cadena causal de grandes consecuencias está en tu mano: cualquier cambio de actitud cambia la forma en que un@ ve el mundo, y esto a su vez cambia la forma en que actúa. Cuando Robert Frost afirma que el pequeño truco del cuervo “salvó” parte de un día del que se lamentaba o del que se había arrepentido, lo dice en el pleno sentido de un cambio redentor de idea. Cuando llegó a casa, estoy seguro de que saludó a la señora Frost de mejor humor del que habría podido hacerlo sin el codazo del cuervo. Y no se sabe qué le hizo esto a ella, ni cómo trató al perro después, o cómo habló más amablemente con su vecin@.
Pero, ¿qué desencadenó exactamente esta afortunada reacción en cadena? ¿Qué le dio al corazón de Frost “un cambio de humor”? Ponte en su lugar mientras él camina de mal humor por el bosque. Entonces siente esa repentina capa de nieve. ¿No te despierta de tu cavilación? Una interrupción como esta podría enojarte si insistes en seguir preocupado por tus problemas.
Pero, sorpresa, que te salpique algo frío te hace salir de estar envuelt@ en ti mism@ y que te enfrentes a lo dado: un árbol de cicuta, un cuervo, nieve derritiéndose en tu cuello. ¡Bingo! Un cambio de humor salvador. Lo que provocó este cambio fue el agradecimiento.
¿Agradecimiento? Escucho un coro de incredulidad. Es cierto que Frost no tenía ganas de agradecerle al cuervo. Pero el agradecimiento es más que dar gracias. Dar gracias viene con pensar. El agradecimiento ocurre antes de pensar, en ese breve intervalo entre “el polvo de nieve” y el pensamiento. Es la respuesta espontánea del corazón humano a lo gratuito. Este agradecimiento libera energía. En el intervalo de sorpresa que antecede al primer pensamiento, se apodera de nosotros el poderoso impulso de una inteligencia que supera con creces al pensamiento. Podemos hacer de nuestro pensamiento una herramienta de esta inteligencia creativa que constantemente genera y sostiene al mundo. Si nos abrimos voluntariamente a su suave fuerza, tiene poder para cambiar todo lo que no esté en sintonía con ella. Gratitud es pensar en sintonía con la inteligencia cósmica que nos inspira en los momentos agradecidos. Puede cambiar más que un estado de ánimo; puede cambiar un mundo.
Preguntas semilla para la reflexión: ¿Qué significa para ti el agradecimiento? ¿Puedes compartir una historia personal de un momento en el que fuiste consciente de sentirte agradecido antes de pensar? ¿Qué te ayuda a crecer en agradecimiento?
El hermano David Steindl Rast es un monje benedictino de 96 años.
Brother David Steindl Rast is a 96-year-old benedictine monk. Excerpt above from here.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What does gratefulness mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you were aware of feeling grateful before thinking? What helps you grow in gratefulness?
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24 Past Reflections
On Oct 12, 2023 Jagannatha Das wrote :
"...gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Thanking comes with thinking. Gratefulness happens before thinking — in that brief gap between “the dust of snow” and thought. It is the spontaneous response of the human heart to the gratuitously given."
I have to chew on that thought for a while before I can swallow it.
Gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Greatefulness is a spontaneous response to something pleasant. May be not necessarily be while something is happening. In fact, I may feel frustrated and even angry about something while being at the moment of it happening. Then later on, it can turn out that because of the very thing that upset me a while back, I realize later that I have been spared a much worse situation.
Recently, my car won't start after a coffee break at a resting place along the highway. I still had a few kilometers to cover and I wanted to make it before dark. I reported my problem to our auto club online. After a long wait, my phone rang. I tr... [View Full Comment]
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On Oct 1, 2023 Brenda wrote :
It comes in waves, the universe reminds us constantly, gives us endless guidance in these interactions. When we can perceive them, respond to them then gratitude accompanies these moments. My usual experience is that before thought, I bask in and absorb this deep, inner response, then tears come and I know that gratitude has arrived. It seems to me that giving and receiving are a single event. The thought is the recording of this event. Being in the moment...
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On Sep 28, 2023 Pat Hardy wrote :
A quirky little incident...As I was taking a morning walk, I was jolted by something which suddenly fell on the top of my head. It was a small little pebble. Too small to hurt, it just made me laugh. I had been thinking about a deceased friend of mine known for his journalistic skills and sense of humor. "Must be Charley," I thought, "letting me know he still has his sense of humor." I saved it for the longest time as a reminder that sweet things can happen when we least expect it.
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On Sep 26, 2023 Cholena wrote :
I was Grateful yesterday when a friend trusted me enough to share some difficulties they are going through. I was grateful for trust, connection and presence. I didn't think about any of that in the moment. In the moment I just experienced a fullness of love.
Perhaps that is what gratefulness is to me. A fullness of love.
Gratefulness is nourished and grows when I let it be spontaneous. I express gratitude not because I should but because I really feel it.
Perhaps that is what gratefulness is to me. A fullness of love.
Gratefulness is nourished and grows when I let it be spontaneous. I express gratitude not because I should but because I really feel it.
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On Sep 26, 2023 David B wrote :
Wonderful. For awhile, I carried a small round rock around in my pocket. When I noticed it there, I thought of something different to be grateful for. In time, it shifted the whole tone of my attention. I dwelled on more positive things naturally. Life got easier and smoother. And things opened up within.
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On Sep 26, 2023 Amy wrote :
I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had full blown brain surgery in May 2023.
My healing and recovery has me difficult
I was short tempered, and just plain old grumpy.
Yesterday the sum was low on the horizon and was splintering in through the windows and creating a dance of shadows and light on the knotty pine cabinets.
It stopped me in my tracks. That place of awe of just witnessing this before my mind could explain it. I think that is the place of stillness I find gratitude.
My healing and recovery has me difficult
I was short tempered, and just plain old grumpy.
Yesterday the sum was low on the horizon and was splintering in through the windows and creating a dance of shadows and light on the knotty pine cabinets.
It stopped me in my tracks. That place of awe of just witnessing this before my mind could explain it. I think that is the place of stillness I find gratitude.
1 reply: Jagannatha | Post Your Reply
On Sep 26, 2023 Victoria wrote :
Gratefulness means freedom to me. It means a free and spacious heart that is open to others, animals, nature, wonder....all that is in the world. It allows me to remember wholeness and beauty when I am lost in fear, doubt or worry....it comforts my soul. Brings me home once again.
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On Sep 26, 2023 Anagha wrote :
Gratitude was a something i thought forced out of a situation though it is true ,it felt bit artificial to look for it in every situation .but now what m really looking for the infinite grace surronds me ,when i get too narrow mindedly focused inside my mostly petty problems and cover up all the awesomeness .whats really artificial is me being blind the grace in plenty around me and forcefully replaying silly worries in my head
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On Sep 26, 2023 Stream wrote :
Ahhhhh! Every day I wake up I am grateful. And I can not remember any more what I felt like when every day was not the best day of my life. My gratefulness constantly exceeds my expectations and so I am happy.
To love is to be happy with. I am so blessed , I am so blessed, I am so grateful, I am so blessed.
And every little cell in my body is happy, every little cell in my body is well. It is choice.
To love is to be happy with. I am so blessed , I am so blessed, I am so grateful, I am so blessed.
And every little cell in my body is happy, every little cell in my body is well. It is choice.
2 replies: Nithya, Nithya | Post Your Reply
On Sep 26, 2023 Francis dacosta wrote :
I continue to be grateful to my cat who jumps up and sits on my computer keyboard, stopping my digital unreal world for me and inviting me into his. I think of Rumi and the wedding and curb my irritation at being forcibly brought back to what is real.
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On Sep 26, 2023 Mamta wrote :
This morning on waking up, I was able to realise, through some grace, that my first thoughts were about doing, about what has not been done. In that moment of perhaps being able to observe my thoughts, gratitude came, gratitude for being alive, for being able to wake up, gratitude for this day. And gratitude helps me connect with the wisdom of the heart to be able to welcome the new in the present moment.
To wake up to this, and then read this article, makes me marvel at the connections in the collective consciousness. I love such synchronicities.
To wake up to this, and then read this article, makes me marvel at the connections in the collective consciousness. I love such synchronicities.
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On Sep 26, 2023 king wrote :
Gratefulness is about appreciating the simple pleasures, acknowledging the kindness of others, and finding joy in the everyday moments. It's a reminder that even amidst challenges, there is much to be thankful for.
Research has shown that practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on our well-being. It reduces stress, fosters optimism, and improves our relationships. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we become more resilient, better able to navigate life's ups and downs.
Research has shown that practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on our well-being. It reduces stress, fosters optimism, and improves our relationships. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we become more resilient, better able to navigate life's ups and downs.
1 reply: King | Post Your Reply
On Sep 26, 2023 Donnie wrote :
This is a very depressing post. In the sense that it implies only when special things happen in my environment will I be able to be grateful. For people who live in very pressing environments with very pressing issues constantly surrounding them, it seems their opportunity to be grateful is extremely limited, if they can only be inspired externally.
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On Sep 25, 2023 Abbie wrote :
I can only share that yesterday I had brought my daughter to a gymnastics class/team trial. I felt very nervous because she really wanted to be accepted and had just been rejected by another class. The students in this class were even more advanced than the other. And I was trying to think of how to manage the rejection with her again. I sort of explained my story to a man sitting next to me. He came back 10 minutes later with a cup of coffee and he said, this is for you, because you are nervous. It still makes me smile. The Gift of the Magi.
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On Sep 22, 2023 David Doane wrote :
Grateful means to me to be deeply thankful and appreciative -- it's a feeling that is deeper than thankful. Grateful is a feeling that emerges within me and I notice it. For me, grateful is different than and separate from expressing thanks. Gratefulness happens, giving thanks takes thinking. My feeling of grateful always comes before thinking. First I feel grateful, then I become aware of it, and then I think about my gratefulness and if I will express thanks and how I will express it. One thing that helps me grow in gratefulness is knowing I am always receiving gifts. Enjoying, valuing, and embracing gratefulness also makes it happen more often and helps it grow and helps me grow in it.
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On Sep 22, 2023 Barbara wrote :
Just yesterday morning, I was deep into some clerical work mode working on something and my husband suggested we go to the beach to throw a line in the water to fish. He was asking me to get out of my head and all the stuff going on inside to go outside and get in nature. As I was sitting on the beach looking at all the beauty around me, gratefulness came to me. The shore birds were going along the beach seeking their nourishing tidbits oblivious to the turmoil in my head. I became so grateful to be experiencing those moments there in nature and with my husband by my side. It truly became a magical time for us both as we got involved with our fishing experience. I won't bore anyone with what we caught, haha, but it is quite memorable for me and I am grateful for that.
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On Sep 22, 2023 Hareshwar Singh wrote :
This is truly a spiritual way of living that captures a profound sense of religiosity while going beyond the narrow confines of religions and their cumbersome dictates and dogmas.
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On Sep 21, 2023 Jagdish P Dave wrote :
As I under from my heartfelt experience of gratefulness, it arises from my heart, not from my head. When a moment of gatefuness arrives, it surprises me and it makes my heart filled with awe and joy. And the beauty of this wonderful arrival of the gratefulness is that it comes without formal invitation and without looking for it. It is sponateous.
I love one of Rabindranth Tagore's short poem. He was looking for beauty in the colorful clouds on the Himalayas, and in the flowing water of Mother Ganga, the Ganges. A blooming flower in his front yard looks at the poet and says. " O Great poet, you're lookig for beauty far away though it is so close to you smilingly looking at you!" These are moments of gratefuness.
I experience gratefuness in small things such as dust of snow falling on my head, sparrows looking for seeds and feefdng thier little baby birds, a child in a grocerystore smiling and waving his hand, and someone taking care of me as I am getting old and weak. They are Di... [View Full Comment]