Every day, I look for ways in which I can live in greater accordance with my beliefs and intentions.  In meditation, I feel at one with Spirit, peaceful, and filled with rightful thinking.  Yet, as soon as I walk out the door, my habitual thoughts, speech, and behavior slap me right in the face.  Although I see improvement, I am constantly rephrasing and correcting speech and conduct, and evaluating how I could have spoken and behaved more productively.

Present Moment Womderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh is a book full of “mindfulness verses” to help the reader realize the wonder in every activity. I create my own statements to respond instead of react to various situations. Nevertheless, I read Present Moment as a reference, guide, and inspiration.  The following are a few ways in which I reprogram my mind throughout the day:

• Verse 2 in Present Moment states: “Walking on Earth is a miracle!” This reminds me to be thankful for every step that I take.  Despite all of the things about which I could complain, it really is a blessing to be alive, to have one more minute to breathe.

• Waking up is awesome! When I don’t want to get out of bed, I give thanks for the opportunity to lie in my bed for awhile in silence.  I give thanks that I am warm, that I have a bed, that I have a house and utilities that work.  On my closet door is the following morning statement by Charles Fillmore: “I fairly sizzle with zeal and enthusiasm, and I spring forth with a mighty faith to do the things that ought to be done by me.”

• I began to be more appreciative of the mechanics of waking up after listening to “So Good To Me” by Lee Williams & The Spiritual QC’s, which is on my Gospel Links page. I actually started crying when I first heard the song because I realized how much I took for granted and didn’t think at all about my abilities to open my eyes, to lift myself up and step out of bed, to stand, and to walk.  Of course, I became more thankful while recovering from a broken foot and knee injury, which impacted my mobility for almost two years.

• “I am protected.” I state this to myself when I hear strange noises in the house late at night and become fearful.  Also, young men have begun to perform donuts on my street.  Calling the police is useless, as the cars will be long gone before anyone arrives, if they respond at all.  I worry that a driver will lose control of the car as it spins around and it will slam into my house.  I breathe and say, “my home is surrounded by a protective shield.  All is well.”  I remind myself that “The illumined walk without fear – by Grace,” as stated in Joel Goldsmith’s The Infinite Way.  I am gracefully illumined.

• I’m speeding along on the highway, totally enjoying my ride. A car zips in front, into the FAST lane, causing me to brake.  My first thought is, “You stupid so and so! Why on earth would you get into the fast lane and not go fast!?”  I catch myself and think, “I am thankful that I was made to slow down.  I don’t know the ways of the Universe.  Perhaps I have been saved from a ticket or accident.  Thank God!”

• When I vacuum or wash dishes, I may initially think,”I hate to vacuum. I hate washing dishes.” I immediately rephrase to “I am thankful that I have a place to vacuum.  I am thankful that I have lots of food that I can prepare and eat, which results in dirty dishes.”  Afterwards, I love being in and express gratitude for a clean house.

• I become exasperated with the long, unreasonable wait to see a medical practitioner in the county hospital. I regret my financial circumstance that results in my being unable to afford private health care.  I force myself to speak in a positive manner to the registration clerk and smile at Bey Bey’s kids crying, screaming, and running through the waiting room.  I breathe deeply and give thanks that 1) I have health care, 2) I am learning firsthand what poor people go through in this country, and 3) I see that many of the immigrants waiting patiently are happy to get any care that is better than the nothing they received in their countries of origin.  I determine to think the same.

In Present Moment, Thich Nhat Hanh states: “When your mind is the clear mirror of meditative awareness, you will know that you are the outward expression of the essence of reality.  So please smile.  Smile with your eyes, not just with your lips.  Smile with your whole being.”

I aspire to be an expression of the reality that wonderfully enfolds me.