Changing Our Attitude

I am loveable and capable.

I am loving and generous.

God, the Creator of all life, loves me unconditionally.

These are the attitudes of gratitude, the mantras of gratitude. “Mantra” in the Sanskrit language means “guide or protector for the mind or thinking being.” These phrases, which if planted deep within our unconscious world by consistent, steady repetition, called “japa” in Sanskrit, will transform our attitude of unfriendliness, irritation, fear and judgment into an attitude of friendliness, compassion, happiness and non-judgment.

I am friends with those who are happy.

I feel the suffering of others and act to relieve it.

I am happy when I see others who are good and virtuous.

I do not judge negatively those who are doing bad or are non-virtuous.

These attitudes (mental thoughts called “samskaras”) are the foundation of gratitude and our direct connection to the consciousness of the Divine. When we repeat these statements over and over and over again in our minds, we are transformed into a godly being on earth. Our mind releases from pain and negativity and is guided to touch the “quiet, peaceful core of our being.” They protect us from our own wandering, negative-prone mind.

This time of the year is the preparation time for Christmas, Hanukah, and Kwanzaa. It is the perfect time to begin to plant these attitudes of gratitude deep within our unconscious minds. They will lift our spirits, individually and as a people. These statements/phrases lift the entire culture’s attitude, as people begin to think of others and the joy of giving to them at this time of the year.

Developing this attitude is not an escape or denial from all the pain and suffering in today’s world. Deeply cultivating these thought patterns makes us resilient in the face of the world’s pain. This implantation of these truths awakens our sense of peace and our purpose for being alive.

When we become aware of what is happening in the world, we often get caught up in the negativity of the world around us—the pain of our many veteran friends suffering from PTSD, the contested elections in Honduras or Zimbabwe, the animosity of political parties toward each other, the agony of those addicted to opiates, the past and continued abuse that many women suffer from men in their lives, etc.

When I get absorbed in those fears, worries and concerns it is because I forget the exhortation of the Yoga Sutras and many of the Christian or Sufi or Jewish or Taoist saints and sages. They continually encourage us by reminding us that “All is Well!”

The yoga tradition knows that saying these positive statements (“mantras”) over and over and over again (in other words, doing “japa”), audibly and/or silently, will free our spirits to know the truth and free us physically and mentally from the disaster of not walking on the spiritual journey of gratitude.

We are called to return to our Source of Life. What a wonderful journey and adventure that is! What wonderful knowledge! So much so, that the journey spontaneously elicits gratitude.

Thank yourself for being loveable and capable. Remember the joy of deeply knowing that

you are loveable and capable,

loving and generous,

and unconditionally loved by your Creator.

Namaste’ (I bow to the divinity within you!)