1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:14,240 Hello hello, this is Sabrina Amina and I'm the host of the feelings pod. 2 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:19,640 Today's episode is on gratitude. 3 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:38,320 I haven't recorded an episode in a couple weeks this summer months have been pretty busy 4 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:55,000 but I have a moment now and I'm feeling called to share a bit about gratitude and how gratitude 5 00:00:55,000 --> 00:01:10,440 is a buoy for me, a life raft when things are challenging. 6 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:19,560 I think I grew up very much in a culture that values gratitude. 7 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:40,000 I'm Algerian and in Islam there are a couple of words, phrases that are repeated so often 8 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:44,160 and one of those words is Alhamdulillah. 9 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:56,520 So it's just so common that people will ask how are you and the response will be Alhamdulillah 10 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:08,040 like Alhamdulillah translated as it means thanks be to God Alhamdulillah. 11 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:19,800 So built into the Arabic language is these constant reminders of God, of Alhamdulillah, 12 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:30,560 of gratitude and thanks to God. 13 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:37,360 No matter what the circumstances are you could be in conversation and be like yeah I just 14 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:54,680 had a bad accident and you can give all these details about this unfortunate event that 15 00:02:54,680 --> 00:03:05,960 passed and at the end of telling that story you'll say Alhamdulillah like but there's 16 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:25,240 an expression for all the things that are but also an expression of gratitude of the 17 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:29,080 things that could have been. 18 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:41,440 Normally I feel much more in flow when I share these episodes so forgive me if this feels 19 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:47,200 a bit more choppy than usual. 20 00:03:47,200 --> 00:04:02,480 I am traveling and I'm currently in Algiers so there is a bit of an ungrounded quality 21 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:14,040 I feel but that's what's present and I'm gonna go with it because I do think this is a topic 22 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:21,920 that's important for me to share and explore. 23 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:32,600 I think in wellness circles, not even wellness circles like everywhere, discussions of gratitude 24 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:46,200 have grown in popularity and there are even studies that talk about the benefits of expressing 25 00:04:46,200 --> 00:05:01,440 gratitude and having a daily gratitude practice. 26 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:06,560 So I guess what I really want to talk about is the feeling of gratitude because this is 27 00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:15,120 the feelings pod, not necessarily having, not necessarily the practice but the feeling 28 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:27,760 and the feeling that comes up for me when I really am in alignment with gratitude is 29 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:37,160 almost to the point of overwhelm. 30 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:46,200 I can often be overcome with emotion just thinking of all the things that I have such 31 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:54,760 a deep gratitude for and that gratitude keeps me afloat. 32 00:05:54,760 --> 00:06:02,280 It is my buoy in this life of ups and downs. 33 00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:10,400 It also reminds me that two things can be true at once. 34 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:21,720 Something seemingly unfortunate or quote unquote bad can happen and I can still have 35 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:38,640 all of these blessings in my life. 36 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:52,360 Another belief from my upbringing that's related to gratitude is this idea that when 37 00:06:52,360 --> 00:07:04,240 something is lost, something else is gained. 38 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:16,080 So for example, we always express gratitude for a loss of capital, a loss of material 39 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:29,400 things, a loss of things that can be replaced because this is always preferable to losing 40 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,640 the things that are irreplaceable. 41 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:38,720 And in fact it's kind of a spiritual insurance policy. 42 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:53,440 It's like a down payment for the protection of those irreplaceable things like the lives 43 00:07:53,440 --> 00:08:19,400 of our loved ones and our health and by extension our time in this world. 44 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:35,680 I can lose all of the money I have in the world and still have wealth in the form of 45 00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:51,320 my relationships in the form of the love that exists in my life, in the form of my health, 46 00:08:51,320 --> 00:09:02,520 my well-being. 47 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:08,880 A loss of material things is irreparable loss. 48 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:13,600 Things and money is replaceable. 49 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:27,960 The things that we don't get back are the people that we love 50 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:33,560 and the time that we have with one another. 51 00:09:33,560 --> 00:09:47,840 Those are the greatest treasures. 52 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:52,640 A friend recently told me the story of Job. 53 00:09:52,640 --> 00:10:05,800 And if you know about Job, the story of Job, that poor guy just lost everything. 54 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:08,080 Everything, everything, everything. 55 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:20,840 Wealth, health and family. 56 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:31,280 And what was left from my understanding of the story, the only thing Job had left was 57 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:32,280 faith. 58 00:10:32,280 --> 00:11:01,400 And the faith I have in my life is definitely a treasure that has been with me forever. 59 00:11:01,400 --> 00:11:09,200 And I think faith looks different for everyone. 60 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:29,520 But for me the form of faith comes in a belief in God. 61 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:35,280 And I feel it's quite vulnerable to share that because I feel like discussions of God 62 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:39,280 are almost taboo. 63 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:57,600 But I really believe I have such a strong reliance on gratitude and a depth of practice 64 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:21,600 with gratitude because of my faith in God, because of my upbringing and growing up, Muslim. 65 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:36,760 It is truly one of the greatest gifts of my life. 66 00:12:36,760 --> 00:12:44,760 So I'm going to keep this practice, I'm going to keep this talk short today so that we can 67 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:51,640 get into a little bit of a gratitude practice. 68 00:12:51,640 --> 00:13:02,200 And my invitation for you this week is leaning a little bit more deeply into your gratitude 69 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:08,280 practice if you have one. 70 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:13,920 And if you don't have really a consistent gratitude practice. 71 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:23,360 Perhaps exploring where there might be room for more gratitude in your life in a way that 72 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:38,280 feels authentic and aligned and genuine. 73 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:46,200 So let's find a comfortable position. 74 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,400 Sitting up, right? 75 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:56,120 And adjusting your posture. 76 00:13:56,120 --> 00:14:00,160 Noticing your connection to the ground beneath you. 77 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:11,160 Noticing the seat beneath you, noticing your sit bones, noticing the alignment of your 78 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:14,520 hips and your shoulders. 79 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:19,880 Just allowing the shoulders to melt down the back. 80 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:26,160 Imagining that your head is as light as a feather floating towards the sky. 81 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:28,160 Just begin to connect to your breath. 82 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:36,160 Take a deep breath in and let it go. 83 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:57,600 We'll just breathe in and breathe out at your own pace and bring to mind something in your 84 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:06,000 life that brings you joy. 85 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:13,920 Or perhaps something in your life that brings you ease. 86 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:17,720 And hold that in your mind's eye. 87 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:28,440 Take a deep breath in and let it go. 88 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:39,800 Just the feeling, whatever feeling or sensation that arises in the body when you think of 89 00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:46,960 this thing that brings you ease or joy. 90 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,800 Where in the body do you feel that sensation? 91 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:56,200 Take a deep breath in. 92 00:15:56,200 --> 00:16:00,240 And let it go. 93 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:15,600 I invite you to rest one hand over the heart and place your other hand over the heart. 94 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,600 Breathe into this space. 95 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:23,000 Take a deep breath in. 96 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:39,640 And perhaps bring to mind gratitude for the abundance of air all around us. 97 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:46,080 For the ability to breathe in a full deep breath. 98 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:57,840 Let it go. 99 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:08,920 Noticing any sensation that comes along with a full deep inhale and a full exhale. 100 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:28,120 Now bring to mind a person that your happy exists in your life. 101 00:17:28,120 --> 00:17:40,880 It could be someone you're close to, someone you know of, someone who's impacted you in 102 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,880 some way. 103 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:51,240 Just bring that person into your mind's eye. 104 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:59,560 And then tune into the feeling of gratitude that you may have that this person exists in 105 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:00,560 your life. 106 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:11,560 Take a deep breath in and let it go. 107 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:34,040 Imagining the feeling that comes up for you, knowing that this person is in your life. 108 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:37,040 Take a deep breath in. 109 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:48,720 And let it go. 110 00:18:48,720 --> 00:19:01,120 And finally bring to mind a place that you enjoy being, where you enjoy spending time 111 00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:11,120 more, a place where you feel comfortable and safe and at ease. 112 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:17,920 Take a deep breath in. 113 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,920 Let it go. 114 00:19:21,920 --> 00:19:27,680 Imagine yourself in that space. 115 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:34,240 Imagine the feeling that you experience when you get to be there. 116 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:39,240 Take a deep breath in. 117 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:44,240 Let it go. 118 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:53,960 And as we close our practice today, I'd like to invite you to extend a bit of gratitude 119 00:19:53,960 --> 00:20:03,320 towards yourself today. 120 00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:21,280 Extend a bit of gratitude for giving yourself some time to be still, to breathe. 121 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:34,960 And perhaps even just offering yourself some gratitude for simply existing. 122 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:52,360 Offering yourself some gratitude for being the only person in the world like you. 123 00:20:52,360 --> 00:21:00,880 Knowing that there's no one else in this world like you. 124 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:08,360 Giving yourself some care and love and gratitude for being just as you are. 125 00:21:08,360 --> 00:21:20,000 Take a deep breath in and let it go. 126 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:28,080 You can feel free to continue following the breath and whenever you feel ready, you can 127 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:35,080 open your eyes and come back to the room. 128 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:38,160 Thank you so much for listening. 129 00:21:38,160 --> 00:21:42,240 Thank you so much for practicing with me today. 130 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:45,920 I'm truly grateful to share space with you. 131 00:21:45,920 --> 00:22:02,200 Have a wonderful day.