Gratitude Guided Meditation Podcast
February 22, 2008 by simplybeing
Gratitude is the highest, most fulfilling, emotion we can feel. Yet so often we’re focused on what we don’t have, what we want to be different, what we think is wrong rather than on what we can be grateful for. There’s nothing wrong with that — it’s human nature — it happens to all of us. Yet most of us would certainly prefer to feel grateful.
When feeling grateful is so rewarding, what can we do to feel it more often? We can’t manufacture gratitude. It comes on its own. But we can give it more opportunity to appear in our lives, simply by taking time to focus on what is good in our lives, to “count our blessings”.
I feel it’s important, however, not to get caught up in the feeling that we should be grateful. There’s nothing we should feel. Gratitude has become a hot topic among spiritual seekers and often when something is seen to be spiritual, it starts to get associated with being virtuous, or being a good person. I’m not interested in gratitude because it somehow makes one a good person, or because I feel we need to learn to feel only positive emotions. I’m interested in gratitude because it uplifts our spirits and feeds our hearts.
I make this point because when I led a gratitude meditation with my local guided meditation group, it wasn’t until I gave them permission not to feel grateful that they were able to relax and have a genuine experience of gratitude arise. As you listen to the Gratitude Guided Meditation podcast episode, be easy with it. If you don’t feel grateful at times while you are listening, let that be OK. Don’t try to make yourself feel anything. Next time you listen, the experience will be different, or you might find that feelings of gratitude surprise you later on during the day. The meditation is simply designed to give you an opportunity to feel gratitude by taking the time to focus on the things in your life you are thankful for. We’re just giving gratitude a chance to come up naturally. Chances are you will at least feel moments of gratitude during the meditation, and when you do, let yourself sink into that feeling. Notice the details of the experience of gratitude — how it feels in your body, how your energy feels. Let it permeate your whole being when it comes up.
We hope you enjoy this meditation, and would love to hear about your experience with the meditation and with gratitude in your lives.
I just started listening to your podcasts, and find them very calming…but I admit that I get the giggles when thinking of gratitude because as a survivor of domestic violence, one of my first lessons was to focus on finding five things to be thankful for. Now, I try to come up with a gratitude list on a regular basis when I feel symptoms of PTSD overwhelm me. I’ve even been grateful for something as simple as my crockpot, or the honeysuckles that are blooming in my front yard.
Hi Tracy,
I’m tickled to hear about your gratitude for your crockpot and honeysuckle. It’s amazing how many wonderful, simple things we have in our lives that we take for granted. Just this morning before reading your comment I was thinking about how grateful I am for the morning light shining in through my east facing windows and the wonderful cow who produces the delicious milk I drink.
Focusing on things to be thankful for to help with PTSD — that makes so much sense. I’m glad you’re also finding the podcasts calming. Best wishes, Mary
Hey, I really liked this. Your guided meditations are really enjoyable.
Thanks for providing them.
I have listened to the gratitude meditation several times. The last time I found myself struggling to find something to be grateful for. I love how you gently remind us to let go of expectations and if we’re not feeling particularly grateful that it is fine to feel that way too. It always comes back to the breath — if nothing else we can be thankful that we are breathing! Those two thoughts made me smile.
I found your meditations very helpful last October when my daughter was in the hospital. I would use the meditations to relax after she was asleep.
Thank you,
Amber
You are welcome, Amberthyme.
I feel that gratitude, like any feeling, can’t be manufactured. But sometimes if we take the time to think of what we can be grateful for, it will come.
f course, we can’t feel grateful all the time. I think we get into trouble when we feel we “should” feel something like gratitude or love. I’ve come to feel the most important thing is to allow ourselves to feel whatever we are feeling at the time. If you are feeling strong grief, it wouldn’t even be appropriate to try to make yourself feel gratitude. You would need to feel the grief all the way.
I’m so glad the meditations helped during a difficult time when your daughter was in the hospital. Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Mary