“An understanding heart is everything in a teacher … . One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feeling.” “… warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”
– Dr. Carl Jung (1875 – 1961) Swiss Psychologist
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GRATITUDE FUELS A LOVING HEART – “When brimming with gratitude, one’s heartbeat must surely result in out- going love … .” (As Bill Sees It, p. 37)
HOW BEST TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THRU OUR AMENDS
“The unconditional love we experience will rejuvenate our will to live, and each positive move on our part will be matched by an unexpected opportunity. A lot of courage and faith goes into making an amend and a lot of spiritual growth results.” (The Basic Truth, pp. 41- 42)
Carl Jung contributions to AA (1:57)
Dyer on Manifesting Your Dreams Guided Meditation LP (20:34)
How have you been able to respond with gratitude and love or not, lately?
Be Grateful :
A rich landowner named Carl often rode around his vast estate so he could congratulate himself on his great wealth. One day while riding around his estate on his favorite horse, he saw Hans, an old tenant farmer. Hans was sitting under a tree when Carl rode by.
Hans said, ‘I was just thanking God for my food.’
Carl protested, ‘If that is all I had to eat, I wouldn’t feel like giving thanks.’
Hans replied, ‘God has given me everything I need and I am thankful for it.’
The old farmer added, ‘It is strange you should come by today because I had a dream last night. In my dream a voice told me….The richest man in the valley will die tonight.’ I don’t know what it means, but I thought I ought to tell you.’
Carl snorted, ‘Dreams are nonsense,’ and galloped away, but he could not forget Hans’ words…The richest man in the valley will die tonight.
He was obviously the richest man in the valley, so he invited his doctor to his house that evening. Carl told the doctor what Hans had said. After a thorough examination, the doctor told the wealthy landowner, ‘Carl, you are as strong and healthy as a horse. There is no way you are going to die tonight.’
…
Nevertheless, for assurance, the doctor stayed with Carl, and they played cards through the night. The doctor left the next morning and Carl apologized for becoming so upset over the old man’s dream.
At about nine o’clock, a messenger arrived at Carl’s door.
‘What is it?’ Carl demanded.
The messenger explained, ‘It’s about old Hans. He died last night in his sleep.’
You don’t need money to be rich, be grateful for what you have in lire and you will feel happier.
Please share this message.
THANK YOU!
Story by Steven Aitchison
Love is in abundance. There is no time like the present to capitalize on it. Learning how to slow down and experience the joy is the problem.
Yesterday I received a very snarky reply in a mass email thread from the leader of an organization. And I chose to refrain from responding rather than replying in kind.
After a lifetime of living only for myself (which of course meant only chaos, confusion, and purposeless Id-driven-everything) I have found that living responsibly is SO much easier. It takes the guesswork out of what to do because there is ALWAYS a solution and it is frequently a very clear one.
This is a hard question for me to answer right now because I am not receiving a great deal of love in my life right now. I suppose my mom invited me for Thanksgiving was something that I have overlooked and could have been more grateful at the time.
The connection btwn love and gratitude and being happy is becoming clearer and clearer for me. In order for me to be loving, I must be filled with gratitude for what I have and that is what leads to a happy life.
Incidentally, I went to a meeting last night and the topic was happiness and these themes came up over and over again.
My sponsor started a Gratitude List that one of us sends out each day. I am surprised at the small blessings I take for granted: heat on a cold day, a healthy cat, decent relationships with my children. I have found that the GL gets me centered each morning. Then, when I express gratitude, I can look at the areas where I owe amends and not feel like something that crawled from under a rock. I have to keep going back to Steps 1, 2, 3. I have to keep reminding myself that I have a Higher Power that loves me unconditionally. I owe amends, and I am okay.