industry thoughts from Clarteza

Being mindful and enjoying the moment is essential. The present moment is all we truly have, but I’ve learned that unless we make a conscious effort to recognize it, the majority of our time is spent in the past or in the future.

A realization of the preciousness of the present moment is grounded in being grateful, and this alone can be truly uplifting. Sometimes, however, we take things for granted and miss the opportunity to cherish the real value of what we have. I see a true connection between the ability to live in the present and the gift of being grateful for each moment.

That said, when life throws you a curve ball it’s hard to keep perspective, so to deal with unexpected events I created a gratefulness habit. Everyday l list three to five things for which I’m grateful to keep me grounded in the good when the bad comes my way. At first it seemed simple; all of us have things for which we can be grateful. But eventually I had to look harder to identify something new every day. There were some days when I was thankful for ‘trivial’ things like my hair :-). But soon I started to identify meaningful aspects of my life almost automatically.

This exercise is like building a muscle. After about a month of doing it every day, I didn’t have to think about it. And there are better days than others but I keep up with my routine.

Sometimes life shows you a dark contrast to the bright side: The unexpected family issue or the loss of a business opportunity a few times in a row. In those moments, I take a deep breath, accept the situation, trust that things will get better and remind myself to be grateful for what I have. I’ve learned that it is much easier to deal with the less positive situations when I re-focus on the blessings I have, and it’s wonderful how feelings of being upset usually dissolve in the context of an appreciation for the bigger picture.

Today my list is longer. I’m grateful for my health, my family, my friends, my Clarteza team, my clients, my travel experiences and those curve balls that allow me to learn and get better.

I’m grateful for all that I have, all that I give and for everything that happens in my life.