We are living in a time when world-wide suffering abounds. What suffering we do see and hear about is only a fraction of what exists. We attempt to know others’ hurts and aches. This attempt is important and with it, we grow in empathy, compassion, and well-intentioned action.
While we do need to deepen our connection with others’ agony and distress, we also need to stay in connection with our own sense of gratitude for what we have.
It is sometimes viewed as strange or even inappropriate to feel joy or pleasure in our have’s when others are entrenched in pain and sorrow. How then, do we allow ourselves this bit of peace we call gratitude?
The teaching is simple, but not easy.
First, we practice the belief that we are interconnected. All of us impact each other in our words, actions, beliefs. Take just a moment to notice how it feels to you to consider that we are interconnected; that we are all humans, humaning.
Once we understand that we are connected, practicing gratitude becomes a way to harness a sense of kindness amidst the suffering of others. With that kindness, we are empowered to do and be more for others. Tara Brach says that gratitude is like breathing in and generosity is breathing like out. We take time to find what joy we have in our lives and then extend our joy filled selves to others to help. We can then include gratitude for the capacity to act in kindness when others suffer.
Next, we work with the idea that gratitude is trust in life exactly as it is.
While we aim to grow personally as well as change the inequities and injustices around us, we start by accepting the palette of paint that we have to grow and change. We understand that what we have is just what we need to begin to expand and for this we are grateful. We also recognize that when we stop using so much energy to complain about what is happening around us, and embrace what we have and what is, we begin to understand what is needed more clearly and extend ourselves outward to help others with a joyful heart.
Finally, we know that suffering, while often very difficult, changes. As a result, suffering leaves us room to find moments of gratitude in the happy moments.
Take time this week to notice your interconnectedness to others. Can you work with any potential judgment of others you may have to instead be more compassionate?
