There are days when we feel that nothing we do will turn out right. Our lack of energy makes all our frustrations gloom over us and, at the same time, we feel invaded by a deep feeling of failure and loneliness that can even lead to physical discomfort. But help or guidance may not necessarily come to us from outside. This is when we´d profit from entertaining notions such as offering and being grateful.

In those moments when chaos seems to torment every aspect of our lives, it is necessary to stop judging whether or not what we are experiencing is beneficial or detrimental to our growth, and rather be thankful for all that is happening to us.

This may be uncomfortable for us at first, but we shouldn’t forget that what is happening to us may be the ideal spark for our much sought-after personal development. We must be grateful not only for those things which we like, but also for those which we can’t seem to understand or appear unpleasant. Each moment we live can become a tool to help us grow at a personal level, and a means to reestablish the balance around us.

There are numerous ways to express what we feel once we´ve received what we were wishing for. According to all the Traditions, this feeling is born from love and is fueled by a creative force. There are those who assure that only through it can our wishes and objectives take form.

But the oldest Traditions were not only aware of the importance of thanking, but also considered an offering as a fundamental part of the ritual- offering something in exchange for having their requests met, as they knew they would be. This concept has been misunderstood and at times confused with sacrifice. Thus, we must make the following distinction: to offer something is an experience which fills us with happiness and joy, whereas to sacrifice deprives us of just these feelings. When we sacrifice, the resulting energy cannot create anything, but when we offer, the best of ourselves arises with a strong force that allows us to move towards positive results. 

It is for this reason that we dedicate these lines to consider this topic and thus start the year with the creative and compassionate force of thankfulness beside us, offering what we have at each moment. Even from the traffic in the streets and the hustle and bustle of city life, we can be thankful for each new day and offer our neighbor a friendly smile of sympathy and respect.

At Ombai, we invite you to create your own rituals of gratitude and offering, to remember throughout the year that there is a creative force arising within each one of us, at our disposal. And we also invite you to share your rituals and experiences with us, at our forums.

For those who wish to delve further into these experiences, many of the books written by Greg Braden* provide techniques and prove through science the true power of this feeling. Another illustrative example of these principles can be found in the movie “The Secret”** or in “What the Bleep Do We Know?”***.


*www.greggbraden.com
**http://thesecret.org
***www.whatthebleep.com