Let's Add Altitude to Your Gratitude
Who was the person who introduced you to crystal meth?
I'll bet every detail surrounding those circumstances is permanently etched into your memory bank.
I've re-lived that faithful Sunday afternoon so many times.
What if I had said no?
What if I hadn't been on Grindr?
What if I had sought help immediately?
Of course, over the years, I've come to realize that if it could have happened any other way, it would have.
That philosophy opened up space for me to forgive the man who handed me the pipe for the first time, followed by a shot of GHB.
Recently, he and I connected on social media. After some catching up, he apologized profusely.
After acknowledging the apology, I proceeded to tell him how grateful I was for him and the decision we made that day (although meth-driven).
In fact, I have included him and that day on my gratitude lists for quite some time now.
If he hadn't introduced me to crystal meth, I wouldn't have burned my life to the ground. If I hadn't burned my life to the ground, I wouldn't be where I am today. Where I am today is the most self-aware, healed, spiritually expanded version of myself that I could ever have imagined.
And that's upgraded gratitude. Gratitude that elevates and escalates your life to its full potential.
You see, life experience is both light and shadow, joy and sorrow, triumph and challenge. While it's natural to feel grateful for the moments that bring us happiness, finding gratitude in the moments of despair brings exponential growth.
When we receive good news, achieve our goals, or experience life's pleasures, gratitude flows easily. We have no problem populating our list.
We cherish the warmth of family gatherings, the thrill of professional success, or the simple pleasure of a sunny day. These moments light up our lives and remind us of life's inherent beauty.
But what about the times when life tests us? The lost opportunities, the painful goodbyes, the relapses?
These experiences, though difficult, shape us in ways that moments of pure joy cannot. They are our greatest teachers, offering lessons in resilience, empathy, and wisdom that we couldn't learn any other way.
Consider how past challenges have transformed you. Consider how your last relapse reframed gratefulness.
Perhaps a career setback led you to discover your true calling or a broken relationship taught you invaluable lessons about love and self-worth.
Even physical illness, while unwelcome, might have deepened your appreciation for health or strengthened bonds with those who supported you through recovery.
Gratitude for life's challenges doesn't mean we must enjoy them.
Instead, it's about recognizing their role in our personal evolution.
Every obstacle overcome adds another layer to our character.
Every disappointment navigated develops our emotional intelligence.
Every loss endured deepens our capacity for compassion.
Practicing gratitude in this way shapes our daily worldview and transforms how we experience and respond to life.
Traffic jams become moments for reflection. Difficult conversations become opportunities for growth. Even our mistakes, rather than sources of shame, become stepping stones toward better judgment and understanding.
The practice of universal gratitude also shifts our perspective from what's missing to what's present.
Instead of lamenting what we lack, we begin to notice the abundance surrounding us – the air we breathe, the ground beneath our feet, and the countless small interactions that make up our days.
Moreover, embracing both the light and shadow of life liberates us from the exhausting pursuit of perpetual happiness.
We learn to dance with life in all its moods, finding peace in the understanding that each experience – pleasant or unpleasant – contributes to the richness of our journey.
This doesn't mean suppressing negative emotions or forcing positivity.
Rather, it's about developing a deeper appreciation for life's full spectrum of experiences. It's about understanding that our challenges are not punishments but rather essential components of our growth and development.
As we cultivate this comprehensive gratitude, we become more resilient, compassionate, and present in our daily lives.
We begin to understand that every experience – whether it brings a smile or a tear – is a gift that contributes to the person we are becoming.
In embracing this perspective, we don't just live life – we honor it in its entirety. We recognize that our story, with all its twists and turns, is exactly as it should be.
And for that, we can be truly thankful.
Love you! Dallas 💚
Reflective Questions
- On Receiving Gratitude Think about a time when someone expressed genuine thanks to you. How did this experience differ from times when you expressed gratitude to others? What physical and emotional sensations did you notice in your body during this experience?
- On Authentic Expression When you consider the difference between genuine and obligatory expressions of thanks, what distinguishes them in your experience? How do you know when gratitude feels authentic versus when it feels forced?
- On Narrative Impact Which stories of gratitude (whether personal or observed) have stayed with you the longest, and why do you think these particular narratives have had such lasting impact? What elements make them especially memorable?
- On Physical Response Have you noticed any changes in your physical state (breathing, tension, energy) when experiencing genuine gratitude? How does your body respond differently to receiving versus giving thanks?
- On Neural Networks Considering that gratitude can reshape our brain's circuitry, how has your capacity for experiencing and expressing gratitude evolved over time? Can you identify specific experiences that have enhanced your ability to feel and express genuine appreciation?
Journal Prompts for Deeper Exploration
- Mapping a Gratitude Narrative Describe in detail a meaningful instance when someone expressed genuine thanks to you. Include:
- The context and circumstances
- Your emotional state before and after
- The specific words or actions used
- The lasting impact of this exchange
- How this experience changed your relationship with that person
- Understanding Authentic Exchange Write about a time when you witnessed someone else receiving genuine appreciation. Document:
- What made the exchange feel authentic
- How both parties were affected
- What you learned from observing this interaction
- How it influenced your own approach to expressing gratitude
- Exploring Physical Awareness Chronicle your body's response to a recent experience of genuine gratitude:
- Where in your body did you feel the sensation first?
- What physical changes did you notice?
- How long did these sensations last?
- What triggered them to arise or subside?
- Tracking Growth Through Story Record a gratitude story that has shaped you:
- The initial circumstance or challenge
- The help or appreciation received
- How this experience transformed your perspective
- Ways this story continues to influence you today
- Building Your Practice Design your personalized gratitude practice by writing about:
- A meaningful gratitude narrative you'll use as your anchor
- The key elements that make this story powerful for you
- How you'll incorporate this practice into your routine
- What physical and emotional cues you'll use to deepen the experience
Responses