Go With The (Grateful) Flowa
(Illustration from The Tools, by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels.)
A longtime client called me the other day in despair. We’ve been working together for a year now and her life has changed dramatically for the better, but she was in a slump.
“I’ve never felt so unmotivated” she said, ‘I don’t want to get out of bed! I feel like I haven’t changed at all. It’s like I’m under a black cloud.”
“This is really good news!” I answered.
“Huh?” she said, certain that I’d lost my mind.
“The best time to use the Tools is when you’re at an absolute low – when you feel like sh*t. That’s when the teaching and healing is most powerful. Think of it as diving into a swimming pool -– once you touch bottom, you’ll rise. Sometimes being in the worst place is the best place to be.”
“Um, Okay…” she replied, clearly unconvinced.
Then I gave her a prescription— Grateful Flow…
The Grateful Flow
(As described by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels in an article for Goop.)
Start by silently stating to yourself specific things in your life you’re grateful for, particularly things you normally take for granted. (You can also include things that you are grateful are not in your life.) Go slowly. Feel the gratefulness for each item. Each time you use the tool, try to come up with new items for the list.
After about 30 seconds, stop thinking and focus on the physical sensation of gratefulness. You’ll feel it coming directly from your heart. This energy you are giving out is Grateful Flow.
As this energy emanates from your heart, your chest will soften and open. In this state you will feel an overwhelming presence approach you, filled with the power of infinite giving. You’ve made a connection to the Source.
I had my client set a timer for 15 minutes and told her to go on with her day. Then when the timer went off, do the Grateful Flow tool listing at least 5 things she was grateful for. I instructed her to repeat this process all day. I told her not to worry whether or not felt like it, or felt anything when she did the Tool– Just do it every 15 minutes no matter what.
She called me 45 minutes later.
“It’s working.” She said.
“Good. Now set the timer to half-hour intervals.”
Two hours later she called again.
“I can’t believe it,” she said. “I feel good. I’m getting so much work done.”
“Congratulations.” I said, “You’ve just found out you have mastery over your mind. You know you can connect to “source” or what I think of as flow anytime you want. ”
***
The Tools are like medicine for the spirit. Next time you’re feeling depressed, negative-minded, or judgemental of others, try a strong dose of Grateful Flow. You’ll be on the mend before you know it.
(Illustration from The Tools, by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels.)