Starting to Judge or Complain? Digest Instead!
If you notice yourself getting into a negative mindset….i.e., when you are tired, irritated, start to complain, get crabby or notice all that’s wrong around you. These are your signs to start digesting instead!
I heard the word digestion in a new way at the Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts. Mama Gena uses “digestion” to remind us to take in what just happened and find the kernels of gold in it. We live in a culture of assessing and identifying problems, and we can easily miss all that’s right in the world. Take stock, and ask, “What’s good about what just happened?” It’s easy to be miserable and takes practice to change your awareness and create a life of contentment. When people get cranky and they don’t know why, Mama Gena likes to say, “Undigested good turns to shit.” You’ve temporarily forgotten all that you have to be thankful for.
Let me give you an example of how I turned myself around and digested instead. I was in New Orleans this weekend to visit my stepdaughter, Joey, and stayed at her apartment. She made lots of plans for my son, Taylor, and me. We went for long walks with her dog Lucy, had brunch, went to the Aquarium, the Insectarium, an IMax movie, watched a parade, went to dinner – and this was all in one day! By the end of the day, we are all pooped. We ended up at a restaurant that was ridiculously expensive. Her apartment is old, we are sharing a small bed, people are noisy outside when it’s time to go to sleep. Get where I’m going here? Yes, downhill, to miserable land.
Here’s how to transform miserable to magnificent:
- Start “digesting” the good that happened that day
- Use gratitude to pull out the kernels of gold in that circumstance
- It’s just a matter of finding what’s right instead of what’s wrong. You can do it…find the gold!
Here’s how I digested my day and turned my attitude around:
- I’m grateful I could come to New Orleans
- I’m grateful I could pay for that fancy dinner
- I’m grateful for her interesting friend Fraiser that came to dinner
- I’m grateful Taylor had such a good disposition after being on the go all day
- I’m grateful for all the fun activities she planned- bike tour, zoo, parade, aquarium, insectarium
- I’m grateful for the high ceilings in her apt
- I’m grateful Joey bought a coffee pot and blender for my visit
- I’m grateful we had a down comforter
- I’m grateful there was room in her apartment for all three of us to stay
- I’m grateful there’s a hallway outside her apartment where I could move the stinky compost so kitchen smelled better
- I liked the high ceilings in the apartment
- I’m grateful the weather was sunny and warm
- I’m grateful for Joey’s positive attitude
- I’m grateful I know to stretch when my back gets tired and starts to hurt
Remember, get right with what is, and use gratitude as a tool to digest! Click here to leave a comment!
Awesome newsletter Andrea! So true, so motivating, and enjoyable to read. We can all relate to situations like that, not only being grateful every day, but then later on the joy of looking back on our lives and knowing we made the best of what was ‘thrown’ our way., and that is a gift to ourselves and the whole world!
Wow. Your husband is the luckiest man in the world!
Great reminders Andrea! When I experience the attitude of gratitude my whole outlook on life changes, and fear and uncertainty is replaced with confidence and surety! And I love your new website.
I am grateful that I made it through this day due to a higher being and my decision to do so. I am grateful that I have a supervisor who is lenient. I am grateful that I have a roommate as a houseguest that I am to learn from. I am grateful that my life is improving each and every day. I am grateful that I am comfortable with who I am. I am grateful that I have many friends and those who are leery of me well it is ok. I am grateful to be alive and to share with you some of my grateful experiences. Enjoy your weekend and thank you for your new website and a place to comment about my gratefulness.
I am grateful to be alive and that I have a weekend to look forward to and to enjoy. I am grateful that I have a family of parents, sister and three brothers who we all care about. I am grateful that I have a new church where I go and learn how to be holy for one day Jesus is returning to the earth and I will be ready to meet him in a perfection state meaning no more debt, lack, insufficiency, insecurity or poverty. I trust God to help me to make it to heaven in one piece and with a sound mind. He is my help to get me through the remainder of my life’s experiences and I have at least another 64 more years to live in expectancy and accomplishments.
I am extremely grateful that I believe God and what he says in his word and to me. I am grateful to be complete all of my schooling successfully BS, MS, PhD, Teacher Certification, law degree; successfully passed American Bar Association (Bar) exam and now work in my own business to help the new generation and those with major skills and talents that are very useful to society. I am thankful for this day and all that is included here today and always.
Congratulations Karen! You have come so far in all that you have achieved. Your presence is making a difference in the world!