Conscious Comments April 2013 | Page 10

Evton B is the keyboard player and front man for the oregon based reggae revolutionaries known as Indubious. Using their musical platform to bring positive change, their deeply spiritual messages aim to raise the vibration of the collective consciousness through word, power, and sound.

www.indubiousmusic.com

Attitude of Gratitude

by Evton B

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"I'm sorry Ma'am but based on the statistics, you should only expect your boys to live to 18 years old", said the doctor. My mother's reaction was one of fear, not knowing how we would be able to deal with such a cruel fate. This was the hand we were dealt when my brother and I were both born and diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis, a debilitating genetic disorder. What initially seemed like the most limiting statement we would ever hear would turn out to be the most powerful and liberating gift we could have ever received. The perspective of gratitude that would result from this idea of perceived limitation would one day turn out to be the foundation upon which my brother's and my life would be built.

From the day we step into this world, we begin to develop our sense of reality based on what is placed before us. What we expect and feel entitled to is always a direct reflection of what we have  

consistently received in our lives. Some people wake up expecting comfort and accommodations and are distraught when they receive anything less. At the same time others understand that they are poor and have little, only to be overjoyed to receive even the smallest gift.

This phenomenon is something I feel everybody can easily identify with, as it is a core element of the human condition. In the same way that we only feel entitled to what we often receive, we also rarely feel grateful for things that seem to always be there. Although this mentality seems to run rampant in the short attention span of our collective consciousness, in order to remain humble we must work to keep it at bay. Cultivating an attitude of gratitude for everything you have is a never-ending endeavor, yet the blessings it can bring into your life will prove it to be one of your highest regarded allies on your spiritual path.

Unfortunately, for most of us, true gratitude only comes when we are faced with the reality of losing something, only to become aware of its blessing in our lives. "You never miss your water until your well runs dry", the saying goes. For others, it might be the witnessing of a tragedy that makes us truly grateful to have our lives, health, and loved ones.