Harvesting Happiness and Tarot Reading….

I have found a solution to my ‘gratitude’ practice when I’m not feeling it.  I’m not feeling ungrateful, just not feeling grateful for anything in particular either. 

It started with well intentions and a new journal.  And on a good day I found myself thoroughly enjoying writing about something specific that had happened.  

And then it began to peter off, and become a few jottings out of duty….a list of say three things I could think back on over the day that came to mind….or one.

This picture of plumbago definitely reminds me of deep appreciation.

The journal seemed to rely on specificity, identifying one moment at a time…and that’s when my problem arose, because quite often it was a perfectly ‘normal’ day with lots going on, a fair amount of my ‘to do’ list accomplished, but no stand out moment. 

Then one of my teachers suggested that ‘appreciation’ is another form of gratitude and has the benefit of not having to be such a big feeling.  Having appreciation for someone or something, a flower, has much less charge, much less pressure.

here’s a sketchy example of appreciation jotted down in my journal.

And that helped.  But again at the end of the day actually writing in my journal about appreciation lost its momentum. 

Wilf and I having an afternoon nap. A perfect moment of appreciation

And then I watched a post on Instagram from Mooji, who has been a teacher I have learned much from over the years, and he suggested keep it simple, just say thank you.  No need to name what for, no need to actually be thinking what for, just lower your head a little and bring your hands up to your heart in a prayerful position and say ‘thank you’.  Thank you.  Thank you. 

And it worked for me, I actually felt grateful, I actually felt peace, I actually felt contentment. With each little bow of my head at each thank you, I could feel myself let out a sigh of relief, of letting go, of returning to my heart wherein seemed to reside gratitude.

A happy moment from yesterday with friends in Saint Raphael

By the way I do think I am missing a trick not writing in my journal. Because if I wrote of the things I appreciate, enjoy, am grateful for, I will remember them, and the good feeling that goes with it, and hold those memories closer to my heart.  And in the process build memories. All even more essential is you live by yourself as we don’t have someone to chat about the day and so never build memories and much slips away and there isn’t another witness to remind you.

So all ‘work in progress’ as part of my “harvesting moments to build happiness’ practice!   Perhaps I need to get to bed earlier!  Or perhaps I can do it in the morning and read it before going to bed.  Will keep you posted on my progress.

Do come and have a tarot reading with me in Battersea, or online, and we can look at your potential to harvest your potential and happiness. Having a tarot reading is another way of taking self care and being reminded of your innate talents, qualities, potential and receive insights that encourage and make you feel positive about yourself and life.