Appreciate people: You can do better than “an attitude of gratitude.”
Appreciate people in your life with a new spirit of Thanksgiving.
Definitely, this is not a typical article about gratitude or being positive! Instead, I’m going to set you thinking about your spiritual Love, Light, and Power.
That is, thinking about how you can start using them in new ways. In order to appreciate people who happen to be in your life right now.
Toward the end of today’s blogpost you’ll also learn how to sign up for my monthly newsletter, Reading Life Deeper. Not coincidentally, it will bring you new ideas to help you appreciate people more.
Mostly, though, this article aims to get you thinking right now. Aiming to help you to grow, emotionally and spiritually — like any blogpost, book, or session of Energy Spirituality™.
Just for special fun: Included in this article, only, will be a tip to help you appreciate your life more.
As always, you’re invited to COMMENT. Adding your stories, your questions.
Sure, toss in a worry or two, if you have one related to what follows.
First of All, Do You Consider Yourself Playful?
Absolutely, you can. Because playfulness is not about your age. Rather, playfulness is a choice you can make, starting now.
Ordinarily, as you may know, I refer to the place where we live as “Earth School.” Today, though, I’m going to call it Our Playground.
Thanksgiving is coming this month. Long before then — and happily ever after — Thanksgiving can become your personal holiday. Because you say so! Therefore, you choose to have fun.
- Every day, playful.
- Appropriately playful, given the situation
- And definitely enjoying yourself no matter what!
And if you have stories about memorable playfulness… Either done by you… Or fondly remembered by you…
Do tell!
Playfulness?
Quite a Contrast to GRATITUDE, BEING POSITIVE, BEING PRESENT!
You know, what mainstream society screams at us. Like this is we should be doing.
- Whether to heal our energies and our lives.
- Or to move toward Spiritual Enlightenment.
Heck, let’s leave that part of our conversation to the COMMENTS below.
Have you had great results from any of these?
And/or are you fed up with other people inflicting their versions of this on you?
Actually, you can tell when folks are multi-tasking that way. Can’t you? Suppose you’re talking to your pal Sam. Or it’s Thanksgiving Dinner with your sister Gladys.
And that person keeps expressing gratitude, sweetness, and light. Exceedingly positive about everything!
Or that person’s forced expression is what clues you in: Either constipation or trying very-very hard to Be Mindful.
Instead, Try This Approach
Inspiring More Playfulness. And Also to Appreciate People More
Every Single Day, What Can Help?
Already you may know about three major talents that you have in life….
(At least, you know about them if you’ve read my daybook about cocreating with God, “Let Today Be a Holiday.”)
But did you know that you can use all three talents to Appreciate People More?
- Spiritual Love
- Spiritual Light
- AND Spiritual Power
Related to Which, Here Comes Our Special Tip, Just for this Blogpost
One Shake-Up Question You Could Ask
Asking it when you’re not having much fun at all. Ask yourself:
“What If I Didn’t Have It? Any of It?”
- For instance, what if a friendship is annoying you?
- Or, this morning, what if somebody awful has made your job unpleasant?
Don’t Just Plant a Smile on Your Face. (While Hating Every Minute.)
Problem solve when you can. Alternatively, sometimes you just have to get through the situation.
But here’s the beauty part, spiritually:
Next time you’re alone: Ask yourself, “What if I didn’t have this friendship, any of it?”
Or ask, “What if I didn’t have this job, any of it?”
Bring in your Love then, to reconsider the current situation.
Alternatively bring in your Light.
If you’re feeling really bold, bring in your Power.
Any of these alternatives will jazz up a trite-and-true old saying. Such as, “Sometimes you have to take the bitter with the sweet.”
Get Started Now. Think of an Example in Your Life that’s Annoying You Now
Then Apply this Tip.
You can use it for annoying situations, as well as annoying people.
In our COMMENTS section below, I’ll provide an example. You can chime in too!
And now…
Appreciating People — Your Newsletter Announcement
In this November issue of Reading Life Deeper, learn about how to be happier, today and every day… simply because you’re learning new skills for appreciating people more.
Specifically, here are the articles for you to enjoy. (And maybe share with friends.)
- My Big Thanksgiving Inspiration
- Appreciating Light
- Appreciating Power
- A Surprisingly Powerful Holiday
- The Best of the Blog
If you start playing more… And you’re using more of our Love, Light, and Power… How great could that be? And what might you turn up as a pleasant surprise?
Appreciating People — could that help you to have more fun, today and every day?
Of Course, You Can’t Appreciate the Energy Spirituality™ Newsletter If You Don’t Sign up for It
Exactly How CAN You Do That, Again?
Subscribing is so easy! Free-and-easy you could say, this this monthly newsletter of Energy Spirituality… It happens to be free of charge.
- Simply go to my website’s Home Page. For a shortcut, just scroll up to the Energy Spirituality logo at the top of this page. Click on it.
- Scroll all the way down. Woo-hoo, you’ll find the signup box. Awaiting you, no special unboxing skills needed. ;-)
- Incidentally, what if you ever wish to unsubscribe? Hey, that’s easy too.
- Also worth knowing: If you should you change your email address, it would be great if you’d unsubscribe out the old. Then subscribe in the new.
- Of course, your confidential email address will be handled honorably. No renting. No selling. You kidding?
- Did you know that “Reading Life Deeper” has an unusually high “click-through rate”? I think it’s because this newsletter gives you original articles at the leading edge of the Age of Awakening.
- Regarding the November 2021 issue of this newsletter, my goal is for this to arrive at your inbox by Friday, Nov. 20, 2021. Sign up right away. At least, that’s my advice.
Finally, COMMENT Away
Have you been appreciating people lately? Any success stories to share?
How about questions? Problems?
From a spiritual perspective, your life could be considered: A progressive learning about how to appreciate others. And also yourself.
Such a deep question about the difference between doing a creative activity and playing!
You know, GLORIA, I think that’s best asked about particular situations, such as in a personal session. (If you feel the need. lt won’t hurt anybody if you think of the two as synonymous. :-) )
A few years ago, a guy I was dating looked at me like he had just realized something, and then said, “I love how playful you are.”
That compliment stuck with me and is meaningful to me, in part because he really meant it and it was true!
Knowing you, JASMINE, that is very true. :-)
I used to be a little too fond of my beer. I’m glad you helped me to stop drinking, Rose.
When reading this article I started thinking about how being pleasantly mellow would give me permission to play more.
It was like drinking would bring out the kid in me, and I could play around with my beer buddies.
That was when I’d do most of my laughing.
Sadly, otherwise I wasn’t allowed to be playful, unless I was flirting.
To me, flirting was a kind of fake playfulness for the purpose of catching a husband. Now I think ick!
Anyway, thank you for this article. When I read it I had an a-ha about how people call not drinking alcohol “being sober.”
As if by not drinking a little each day, and having that as my only chance to play and act silly, saying goodbye to my beer meant that I would have to become sober and serious. Like doomed to be an adult.
Rose, would you comment about giving ourselves permission to play even when we have a “sober” lifestyle?
First, congratulations on your living substance-free, consciousness-escapism-free, and moving full speed ahead toward living your full potential in life.
For sure, I invite all you Blog-Buddies to come up with catchier version of these three above-mentioned words for not messing up your life by using “recreational” substances. Short-term, these serve as an artificial way to become friendly and playful.
Long-term, they suck a lot of the true, honest, innocent, creative recreation out of life.
What do Energy Spirituality clients discover as a consequence of regular sessions with an expert Apprentice or Practitioner?
Less STUFF in their auras. More freedom to enjoy other people, enjoy everyday life, and yes…
We can regain a childlike creativity… and with that, automatically, we become more playful.
By contrast, you’re right, CAROL: Using the word “sober” kind of misses the point.
Besides, using this joyless-and-unimaginative word reminds me of my favorite quote from H.L. Mencken:
I’ll admit it. Before reading this issue of your newsletter, I never thought about reading, “Let Today Be a Holiday.”
In particular, I wasn’t familiar with the concept of having both love, light, and power as spiritual attributes.
What a relief to me! I’m not that emotional a guy.
Yet Jesus was supposed to be all about love and forgiveness, which pretty much disqualified me from being a “good Christian,” etc.
Thanks, MARTY.
Isn’t it fascinating how mainstream thinking (and Collective Consciousness) often reduce something complex to a big cliché about being emotional?
Two examples follow, inspired by these comments from you, MARTY:
Turning Something Complex and Rich into Cheap Emotional Mush: Example 1 is Empath Teachings
When I founded the field of Empath Coaching, in 2003, I didn’t define being an empath in terms of “feeling everyone’s feelings.
Quite the opposite. Yet this kind of emotional mush has become widespread by now, thanks to other empath teachers of various kinds. Such a shame!
If you wish to benefit from Empath Empowerment®, you’ll learn something with a higher Truth Value.
I urge anybody with any curiosity whatsoever to watch this Empath Empowerment video, and them watch the second short video that follows… and proceed to learn more about what an empath really is!
Turning Something Complex and Rich into Cheap Emotional Mush:
Example 2 is Christian and Other Spiritual Teachings
Expressly, MARTY, I’m referring to outdated teachings from the Age of Faith. So many of these reduce our spiritual nature to LOVE, and other mushy-gushy aspects of having faith.
Yet many folks like you, MARTY, lead with developing LIGHT. Spiritual Light, not Spiritual Love.
While still others lead with developing POWER. Which is a third strength that humans can have in life.
We’re free to develop either Spiritual Light, OR Spiritual Love, OR Spiritual Power.
In addition, we’re free to develop the other two major spiritual expressions.
All this can accelerate for you if you use “Let Today Be a Holiday” as a daybook for emotional growth and spiritual awakening.
So it makes an excellent source of techniques to use for your 20 Daily Minutes of Technique Time, Tops.
I’m a dancer. I’m no Fred Astaire but I do dance around my apartment.
Since I’m not a professional dancer that counts as playing, right?
Sure does. Thanks, JACK.
As a professional dancer, once you’ve put in the sweat and pain to technically learn some choreography, then your dance might count as playing too.
In response to by Carol’s comments:
I met someone recently who never much liked beer or weed, even though her peers told her it was cool.
She told me she felt like she never fit in.
But still, she’d call upon her own zest for life, having so much fun people would assume she was drunk.
But no, she just loved life. And she’s still like that today.
She never grew to rely on substances to be silly or spontaneous or outrageous.
I consider her lucky.
I learned to use alcohol to make myself feel social and invincible and cool, even if that was mainly just my perception, not reality.
When I quit drinking, I had to re-learn how to enjoy regular life without substances.
It took at least a year, and is still a learning process.
But, life is what it really is now, not tinted by substance-escapism.
So if I enjoy something or someone as they are, that’s real.
Life is much clearer, much more stable.
And, as far as I can tell, no less fun. Certainly less dramatic though.
Sometimes people can’t believe “I’m sober,” I guess because I’m not boring and serious all the time.
It’s a sad state of affairs, those who cannot enjoy life without substances.
Because they’re trapped, and, they’re doing slow damage to themselves, their joy, their clarity.
Energy Spirituality is a great resource to starting to enjoy life as it really is.
TIM, thank you for this remarkable share, full of wisdom and compassion and honesty.
Appreciating someone for doing something for you is one of the greatest gratitude towards that person.
Bible also suggests that we must be kind to everyone as it will enhance our relationship and a step towards the kingdom of heaven. I really appreciate it.
Welcome to my blog, MOHIT SHARMA.
If I understand your Comment #144 correctly, you find something similar to what I find, which is a ton of well-meant but (frankly) insincere gratitude that people express.
Maybe forcing gratitude because, as you note in Comment #145, many people follow religious that emphasize gratitude and kindness.
So folks push this kind of attitude, as if this is a requirement for getting their ticket punched; their ticket to Heaven.
It’s preferable, I’d agree, to appreciate people for what they say and do; rather than rote-and-reflexive “gratitude” or “kindness.”
Well noted, MOHIT.
I’m so glad that Carol brought up this problem.
As you know, Rose, you’ve helped me to overcome my former drinking habits. By now I abstain and it’s something I don’t even think about except for the social pressure.
But there is a lot of that pressure these days.
It seems like wherever I go, everyone in the crowd is drinking wine as if this means they are living the good life.
Other friends are into weed. Still others are walking around kind of plastic and they want me to try their CBD candy etc.
I don’t quite know how to refuse without making that a big deal. Any recommendations?
it’s not like I’m a teenager and so it feels like I’m going to live and die based on peer pressure. If anything, though, all this push to use substances seems to be getting worse, much worse.
Am I the only one to think so?
Blame the pandemic or whatever? To be honest I don’t care why it’s happening.
I just want to keep myself safe and evolving toward using my full potential in life.
It’s weird that so many people are indirectly trying to put me on the defensive. Abstaining is a better way for me.
I think they’d be better off that way too, but I don’t push anyone.
I think it makes more sense that people who want to numb themselves or get high, using substances, they are the ones who out to be on the defensive.
Imagine that you’re at your friend Joe’s house, with a group of friends, and then Joe looks very uncomfortable.
Then he says “I’m not having enough fun. It’s my fault. I’m so messed up. I can’t get through a friendly visit without killing more of my brain cells. Please forgive me for sneaking into the kitchen to have some wine.”
Funny, DENISE, that Comment #157. Thanks for all your observations here.
What you’ve written here reminds me of two key concepts in Energy Spirituality. First there’s External Validation. This leads to making choices — including choices about whether to use recreational substances — based on other people’s approval.
However, we’ve also got access to Internal Validation, making choices for ourselves.
Putting our personal values first!
Depending on Internal Validation doesn’t mean we ignore other people’s opinions, or what happens in objective reality.
But we do insist on making our own choices for ourselves. Very helpful for living Sober Curious.
This was my first time reading your newsletter. Thank you for this.
I like the idea of using my spiritual light to improve my relationships with people. In the past I would use what I learned about psychology.
In general I’ve found there are two kinds of relationships, the easy ones and then the ones that aren’t easy at all.
I haven’t wanted to judge people in the second category. What am I used to doing? Analyzing them psychologically so that I can understand their motivations or whatever.
When I was fifteen this seemed like a great adventure. By now it has become boring.
I love the ideas in the newsletter for appreciating people more. And my favorite is the spiritual light idea, like I can just appreciate one of the difficult people in my life, like he’s free to do this and isn’t it interesting how she does that?
I’m not sure I’m saying all this very well but I hope my thank you comes through loud and clear.
NANCY, welcome to my blog. All your insights did come through loud and clear and beautifully.
Today is Thanksgiving Day, at least in my country and in my time zone. Wherever you Blog-Buddies are, I hope that this is an excellent day for appreciating all the good things in your life.
I’m appreciating the newsletter and the blog. Thank you, Rose. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sweet of you, LESLEY ROSS. Thank you ever so much.
I agree with you, Rose. Mainstream society puts so much pressure on thoughtful people to be grateful and positive, at all times, whatever the costs.
To me, this is such a sign of being stuck.
Like conversations where a stranger tells me to “Have a peaceful day.”
I’d rather have an authentic life, a vivid life, than a beige and bland “peaceful” life.
Whatever the “costs” — RYAN, I like how you made the word “cost” plural.
Because there isn’t just one cost to forced positivity and peacefulness, there are many.
Witness this little series of blogposts. When you click on them, you’ll receive an honest education in pretending to be ANYTHING, let alone positive and peaceful.
In the following, you could substitute the word peaceful for the word positive;
#1. The high cost of staying positive
This article launches a five-part series that debunks the pretty-pretty notion of “Force yourself to put a fake smile on your face.”
#2. Staying positive
Because that’s harder to do than the concept suggests. By contrast, discernment about authentic positive feelings… can authentically help you.
#3. Portrait of somebody with unforced, authentic positive power.
That’s an aura reading of Chuck Schumer, now the Senate Majority Leader. He helped to move through the Covid Relief Bill and also America’s historic Infrastructure Bill. What’s he really like?
#4. How to spot and avoid fake positivity
Forced positivity can backfire. The interesting part is in the details!
And #5. Authentic Positivity Tips that Work
Read about five tips for authentically being No-Fake Positive. :-)
I’m childless and most of my friends don’t have children either.
Some of my friends are fixated on their biological clocks, like they just have to become mothers or their lives will be wasted.
I’m not staking my happiness on the belief that the point of my life is to become a mother.
My life is pretty excellent as it is. Maybe one reason why I enjoy it so much is that I can play without having a little kid to take care of.
For example, I love making music. That’s called “playing” music for a reason.
Brava, PEGGY!
Music is a great way to play. Besides, you are more than your physical body.