what i had to do was a combination of exposure therapy (spending a bit more than felt comfortable) + emotional work:
i’d notice my tendency to choose discomfort over spending money → spend → freak out → explore / be with the feeling
also, active gratitude whenever i spent
yep, we've been doing it at the end of our morning routine so we're usually already sitting down, outside & after meditation, then we just turn to face each other and take turns sharing what we're feeling* grateful for
*the key's been speaking only from feeling. meaning pausing and noticing what we feel truthfully... See more
A lot of people are just trying to get to tomorrow and don't have the luxury of getting to think about how good they can be. And so if you are in a place where you have any space to get to think about that, it's something to be grateful for.
A few lines from my eclipse diary entry, if anyone wants to say them out loud with me:
I lovingly and peacefully call all of my energy back to me now. Thank you. I am so grateful to be protected, guided, and loved in all moments. Isn’t it wonderful how everything works out for me? I wake up every day saying “Show me how... See more
“The more you become a connoisseur of gratitude, the less you are a victim of resentment, depression, and despair. Gratitude will act as an elixir that will gradually dissolve the hard shell of your ego–your need to possess and control—and transform you into a generous being. The sense of gratitude produces true spiritual alchemy, makes us... See more
Declare war on the negative bias: Focus on the things that go right instead of the things that go wrong — did the checkout line at the grocery store go quick? Did you avoid red lights on your way to work? If all you did was look for things to appreciate, you would live a spectacular life.
Everything is connected - “It takes thousands of people to... See more
Sometimes the key to happiness isn’t finding the next upgrade, but appreciating what’s already in front of you. We’re prone to undervaluing what we have and overvaluing what we don’t have yet covet. Sometimes the grass is greener where you water it.
“Asking for help with shame says: You have the power over me. Asking with condescension says: I have the power over you. But asking for help with gratitude says: We have the power to help each other.”