Living well is a state or condition most people strive for and set their personal goals around. The components that involve this state usually involve the realms of health, wealth and feeling passion. A particular portion of each of these components is usually required to attain what many perceive as the overall balance of living well. But there is a particular concept that flows through each of these components that must be present for one to truly move through life in an optimum manner, regardless of outside circumstances or conditions. This concept is the continuous practice of gratitude.
When the idea of living well comes to mind, the focus of physical health is not far behind. Your body is your vehicle first and foremost and you rely on its health and movement at all times. There is a certain amount of energy a body requires to produce a desired or needed action. When you feel good physically, when you are able to move around at ease and when you can enjoy activities that require endurance or dexterity, you are able to fulfill a component of living well. If you do not find importance in your health or if your body is suffering from illness or disease, it can be difficult to feel that you are living well. The physical problems can override all other positive aspects and the joy of wellness is lessened.
For some, and probably many, the idea of living well means being financially abundant and worry free of money problems also. The wealth realm of living well is no doubt a strong component but as the old saying goes “money does not buy happiness” however it still doesn’t prevent us from trying! Sure wealth can provide a comfortable living environment, fabulous friends or beautiful jewelry but it is only a one spoke in the wheel of living well when considering the optimum balance of life. Is the happiness you are deriving from wealth short-lived and sporadic or is it enduring? Do you love what you are doing for income or do you hate what you do but it pays well? Living well means to enjoy your livelihood throughout the process.
Which brings us to our next point of living well, feeling passion. Passion is embedded in life, whether through thought, activity, expression or silence. It is a component that everyone must identify within themselves and tap into as often as possible. It can awaken the body to wellness and can create ideas to unforeseen prosperity. Passion is the oil that moves the machine!
So how do we keep the tap of living well flowing throughout our lives even if one of these components is off balance? How do we create the conditions of living well even when our finances are not where we want them to be, even if our health is not its best, even if we have no idea what our passion is? Simply, it is through practicing gratitude with sincerity. When we think of things that bring gratitude, we may choose thoughts such as, I’m grateful for my family or I’m grateful my company is not down sizing. But it is more than just looking at the good. That is easy. It is looking at the not-so-good as well but from a different perspective.
Here are some thoughts on thankfulness I recently came across and expanded. Hopefully you will get the idea of how bringing gratitude to all conditions can extend into living well, at any moment.
I am grateful……
For the mess to clean after a party
Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too tight
Because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work
Because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For my landscape that needs trimming,
Windows that need cleaning,
Roof that needs fixing,
Because it means I have a home.
For the parking spot I find at the far end of the street
Because it means I am capable of walking
and I have been blessed with transportation.
For my air conditioning and electricity bill
Because it means I am cool and comfortable.
For the pile of laundry and ironing
Because it means I have clothes to wear.
For the occasional power outages
Because it makes me stop and become present.
For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day
Because it means I have been capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours
Because it means I am alive.
And finally, for too much e-mail
Because it means I have friends who are thinking of me.
