Muscle Memory & Gratefulness - Part 4

If you're still with me, maybe you're in agreement that sometimes it's necessary to work on things in order to get better at things.

We've been talking about muscle/motor memory and gratitude.  They don't seem to fit together but the point would be; if we want to get better at recognizing gifts and responding immediately and graciously, we will need to work on it.

How?



There are many ways to practice and you probably have already heard about and maybe even tried to incorporate some in your daily routines. The usual candidates are:

• Keep a journal.  Every evening (or other regular time) write down 3 things for which you're grateful
• Place reminders on post-it notes in areas where you'll see them frequently
• Be aware.  Notice nature.  Notice the way you're made.  Notice the people around you and go out of your way to say 'thanks' for even small incidental things that happen during the day.
• Smile more.
• Volunteer.
• Try to see the positive side of negative thoughts.
• See your mistakes as opportunities for growth.

You get the idea.  There are a multitude of ideas that might help us to live in gratitude.  I came across another exercise a while ago.  The premise isn't a training exercise designed to remind, remind and remind again.  Actually, the goal is much deeper.  The mission is to change us from the inside out. The aspiration is to live in the way a Christian is to live.

Step 1

• Think of something that makes you grateful.  This should be something that comes quickly to mind with no effort.  It's usually something close to you that would be considered debilitating if you lost it/him/her.  You're just always appreciating this 'something/someone'.
• Close your eyes and let the gratitude fill your heart. 
• Once you bask in this feeling for a moment or two, give God thanks.

Step 2

• Think of something that for which you hold no attachment.  For our purposes, let's use a thumb. When you try this later, remember that it could be something like a fork, chair, window or a light switch. You choose.  It should be something that you really don't think about much.  It's just there and taken completely for granted.  
• Then, find something that makes you grateful in relation to the chosen example.  Have you ever tried picking up a glass of water without a thumb?  
• I'm thankful for opposing thumbs - very thankful!  
• Again, give God thanks.

Step 3

• You probably already know where this is going.  Think of something that turns your stomach - something that you just can't come to grips with.  It might not be a thing.  It might be a person.  
• Then think of that someone in a different light.  Think something like, "Here is someone who can help me practice love like the sun shines and the rain falls."  It's difficult.  No, much harder than difficult. Like the sun shines?  I know these words are scriptural.  (Matt 5:45) God can do it, but me? Let me tell you how I manage this task.  I need to close my eyes and think of this person sitting alone in a field.  Rays of sun are bathing them from above.  This just helps me visualize God pouring light on them.  I can 'experience' this in my mind's eye showing me that the Cross was for everyone.  If God thinks this person has worth, it's my duty to think that as well.  Yes, maybe this seems corny, but it honestly works for me.
• Then thank God for this as well.

From this exercise, I learn how to appreciate even the hard things in life.  It's not denying that hard things exist, but it is helping me see a different perspective.  That perspective isn't real until I experience it.  But once it's been experienced, the feeling becomes genuine.

This will take more time than just writing a quick note in a journal and going to bed.  This involves thought and a form of experience that will, over time, change your perspective from the inside out. This results in permanent change.  This results in muscle/motor memory reinforcement.  This results in more Christ-like living.

Practicing will take effort and determination for an extended period of time but I'm going to give it a shot.  How about you?

This exercise was taught by Shane Hipps in his sermon "Jesus Economics".  Thank you Shane!

An added benefit gleaned from this exercise:  Maybe you have been asked to pray for someone. Maybe their circumstances are dire.  Maybe, when you try to pray, you become distracted and find it hard to focus on your petition. Using the beam of light example above has helped me see God pouring his grace upon those for whom I pray.  I experience this prayer.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  James 1:17


And:

• Interesting Blog post from May 17.  In a few paragraphs, the writer encapsulates the whole point of this series of articles.    The Hardest Thing About Gratitude by A Learning a Day.
• An article for a few more ideas:  Gratitude: Pathway to Permanent Change