It seems clear that encouraging and maintaining an inner posture of thankfulness is a healthy thing, and medical research and the biological sciences confirm this and continue to affirm it. However, most of the conclusions are coming to us from a mental aspect 99% of the time—meaning that we are given a lot to think about, but then thinking about it is all we do.
We then erroneously believe that this thinking is actually doing it. While we may notice the 1% energy difference that is being made in our life from thinking about it, we aren’t realizing that 99% is missing. The large amount of energy that is absent is the feeling of gratefulness, which will also be presented here as “the feeling of great fullness.”
It would be redundant to say that life has been weird, because it always is. I wonder if saying life is wonderful would also be redundant at some point, because the wonder never stops. Of course it takes a conscious mind to wonder at, or even wonder if. Consciousness is wonderful but it’s also weird. Therefore life is weird and wonderful. And so are you, and so am I. Therein is the great fullness, which we can feel as gratefulness.
Whereas before our grief might have been draining the life out of our living, we also have opportunities to experience and subsequently understand that there is no such thing as death. This will allow us to put joy back into our living, which is the meaning of “enjoy.”
Many people these days seem to think that they should be getting joy out of living, but they have it backwards. Joy is something we put into living, for we are the channels for this ever-emerging energy, which is also our Source. That is, Creative Source is not only in us, but we are also Creator Source. We are the fountains through which the waters of life flow. We are the lilies and the fields and the ground from which all being and awareness of being arises and manifests.
What follows is another mindfulness practice that is enhanced by a “feeling-full” aspect which becomes the channel for the outflow of joy, or enjoyment. It begins with a thought of gratitude as a doorway into the thinking mind, and then expands further into the feeling of great fullness which allows the sensation of joy to flow out of us and into the world in which we are currently living.
Like air and breathing, the substance of great fullness is always available, for it makes up our visible and invisible worlds. It is that in which we move and have our being. Feeling this substance is what opens up channels to it and keeps it flowing. The flowing is the feeling of great fullness, which is also joy. Because it’s always available, this practice is not difficult. If done enough, the only thing that might become difficult is not doing it.
The Practice: Start with any simple thought of gratitude, which is the mental flint that sparks the flame of feeling. Because the feeling ignites so quickly, strive to quickly let go of the thought and continue to feel the feeling, as will be said so many times in this book.
For example, after having a thought such as “I am grateful for the sun” or “I have gratitude for my health” or “I am grateful for this being’s love,” immediately raise its vibration by changing it to “I feel the great fullness of the sun” or “I am feeling the great fullness of my health” or “I feel the great fullness of this being’s love.”
All you have to do is declare that you feel—not have—but feel gratitude for anything and everything—and then feel it. Even if you weren’t thinking gratitude, announce that you do now. Use your mind to spark the flame. Do it for everything. It will bring transformation, which includes the changing of beliefs, so whether or not you believe this will work doesn’t matter. The power of Love, which is what this energy of great fullness is, removes all obstacles to Life. The only way Love can’t do this is if you stop it.
I feel the great fullness of my ever-increasing or perfect health; my perfect circulation, my perfect sinuses, my perfect lungs, my perfect spine, my perfect energy, my perfect digestion, knees, heart, etc.
Adding the word “perfect” increases the positive energy. Use other enlightening words as well to enliven and enrich the feeling. Creator Source modeled this for us from the very beginning, when It created something and then pronounced it “good and very good.” If you don’t believe this, experiment as a co-Creator and assess your own personal evidence.
I feel the great fullness of my peaceful home; the great fullness of the mysteries of a perplexing relationship; the great fullness of the potential of my job.
I feel the great fullness of the rich green of these trees; the symmetry of that blade of grass; the silky wetness of this precious rain; the warmth of the sunlight dappling on my face; the flight of that distant bird; the antics of this silly cat that make me smile; I feel the great fullness of my smile.
I feel the great fullness of this glass of clean water; the taste of this delicious yogurt; the design and shine of this interesting spoon.
I feel the great fullness of this toothbrush; the coolness of the sink; the instant running water; the underlying life of that crying baby; those laughing tourists.
All of the above suggestions are about elements and experiences we would likely label as “positive.” But what about seemingly less-than-positive, even painful things? I can also let myself feel the great fullness of a sadness; my tears; my body’s aches; the anger; the loss.
I feel the great fullness of my grief.
You get the idea. Do this as much as you can for a day, or for part of any day. Move through each day riding a wave of great fullness from dawn until dusk.
And as you’re riding the wave, begin to let yourself feel the actual energy of the wave. Realize that you’re actually entering each of these elements in the world about you, and that the feelings are flowing up and through you and out into the world, as if through a Renaissance fountain of astonishing character and dramatic detail. Flow from one thing to another with the feeling of great fullness: I am the feeling of great fullness.
I am the feeling of great fullness.
At the end of the day take the feeling of great fullness with you into sleep, whether it’s joy, sadness, relief, or a mixture of them all. I feel the great fullness of this day as it departs, to never happen again; this comfy bed; the warm embrace of the pillow; these soft sheets; the quiet darkness; the unending mystery of my life. Float on ever-more-gentle waves into your world of dreams, bringing peaceful joy, the slowing down of your energies, an awareness of the light dimming with consciousness.
And then strive to remember to express an awareness of gratitude upon awakening and before getting out of bed...