Gratitude & Silence - Sleep For Rejuvenation

By:Nougye Mutungi Mukoma

Gratitude

Todayin blog, a revisit of gratitude is quite fitting. Gratitude gives us the time and space to appreciate our lives and everything in it. On the other hand, we must appreciate as well as it silence enables us to be in a state of communion with the creator and all that we are. These fundamental pearls allow us to sleep in a way that leads to clarity of the mind and heart.

Starting with gratitude. What is gratitude?

I have felt the meaning of this word, I have heard its worldly definition, and I reserve it to the following as to its presentation in its encounter.

Gratitude is the collapsing of your fears, however big or small, your worries, anxiety, and depression, to simply be and appreciate all that you are in fullness with the moment.

The most beautiful thing about gratitude is that it does not boast or brag about what you have, should be, or could be. It simply says, “Yes, you are enough.” It is a term that you can say is the universe’s way of expressing unconditional love and your acceptance of it.

Have you ever felt this meaning in your life? Have you experienced it deep within your being?

If you have, you will know that gratitude unloads our burdens, pains, sorrows, regrets, and emotional states that feel very heavy. Naturally, it would do well for you to make a conscious effort to practice it every day.

5 Steps To Practice Gratitude For Self-Care

1. Understanding Its Actual Meaning

The first natural step in this journey is to understand the actual meaning of gratitude. And if you’ve already felt its meaning, you may start by connecting with that memory. However, if you’ve done neither, I would suggest you take some time and look for its definition.

You see, in our everyday lives, while we are moving our being through breath and knowledge, we are often not in tune with the definitions of certain emotions that we have encountered. This may be hard for us to accept, but it is true. This is why it is important to make use of a dictionary… literally! This will help to unfold the inner feelings that you can’t express simply because of a lack of understanding.

Once you connect with the definitions, however, you can more easily apply the practice in your life.

2. Apply It

Once you are satisfied with step one, apply it now as you understand it. Take some time for yourself, even if it is just 5, 10, or 15 minutes daily.

3. Make A Commitment To Yourself

Next, you need to foster a sense of commitment to yourself. Ask yourself now and then, “Even if the world did not think I’m worthy, what am I worth to myself?”

4. Make Good On Your Commitment

This needs to be an everyday thing. In a quiet place, sit and close your eyes. Take up to three deep breaths, taking in air through the nose and letting it out through the mouth. It’s up to you if a prayer of intention comes forth, or just the silence of being. Then list out as many things, people, and situations as you would like, for which you are grateful in life.

When you’re done or satisfied, remember to feel a sense of gratitude from the depth of your very being. Feel it in your bones! Say to yourself, “I am enough as I am. My choices are before me, and I will be intentional today with the one in my choosing, with love for all that I am, in unified goodness with God and the universe.” Make your intentions very clear.

If you’re not yet ready for this step, just continue with the breathing exercises and what you’re grateful for.

5. Acknowledge Your Practice

The next step is to acknowledge the above steps. Know that they are meaningful for goodness within your life. Life simply asks that you take small steps. Be grateful. Make it an attitude by which you exist.

Silence & Sleep

As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog post, silence is key in communicating with your creator… at least in my opinion! You may always please share what works for you as well.

To me, silence is a place of no impressions or impositions on the mind, psyche, and body. Silence allows you to hear the subtleties of thoughts emerging and whether the conscious observing mind will accept or reject this movement. Therefore, seek to have a space and time for silence within your day.

Sleep. And yes, this was a full sentence. Sleep permits the rejuvenation of our otherwise chaotic and fragmented mind into a state of order. You see, the brain seeks order for self-direction and protection. And the body seeks homeostasis through rest. As biological beings, these are fundamental things that are encoded into us. Hence, sleep is one of the most important aspects of life.

Sleep may resolve a lot of problems and may even get better with proper maintenance of the body. Things like hydration, nutrition, and exercise can be used to improve the quality of your sleep. Please read my blog on nutrition for more details on this topic.

To Wrap It Up…

In closing with gratitude, I would like to wish you and your family a great moment of togetherness as the holiday season approaches. The world is in a state of change and transition, as you might have already felt. My heart and emotions are most aware of this.

Our parts are to be a light onto ourselves and if the spirit moves us, to project this light onto our fellow man, who is as well our very being. This is not to ignore history. As a woman from Haiti, I am well aware and conscious. In harmony with our earthly lives together, I am grateful to the Creator despite everything.

Again, I am grateful for you reading this blog. I am equally grateful for the ability to feel words so deeply to be able to use them as light for my healing and to share as unselfishly as possible, with others as they accept them. I thank you for your journey with me through these holistic approaches in understanding the simple foundations of life that are so meaningful and important but are long forgotten or made meaningless by the business of life.

Blessings,

Nougye