Dr. Thomas Maples

Monday Morning Affirmation

This week, I affirm to create an attitude of gratitude in all that I do.

Dr. Thomas Maples

A Depth Psychology Perspective

Gratitude is an attitude. It is a position of graciousness lived, an attitude of being thankful for what was and what is at hand, so that we may create the meaning by which our dreams can manifest.

As a depth psychotherapist, much of the world I work within focuses on the nature of the soul’s intent. But in its capacity to pull us into its unknown depths, we engage first hand what Carl Jung called the night sea’s journey.

The night sea journey is a kind of descensus ad inferos – a descent into Hades and a journey to the land of ghosts somewhere beyond this world, beyond consciousness, hence an immersion in the unconscious.

Carl Jung

But this journey to the land of hidden ghosts, the wold that exists just beyond our conscious perception, creates the action needed to bring to consciousness those unconscious events that hinder our inner light from shining to its full extent. This is the peril behind the soul work needed to individuate. This is the ash tending work we undertake to find the hidden those burning embers that will re-ignite the soul’s passion to realize its true nature.

The psychology of self, or the ego we create forms the foundation from which Self arises. By understanding what was, we can get to what is at hand. But this energy also creates danger to the non-directed psyche. This place can represent the lost feeling one undertakes as they strive to make sense of the direction that lays at hand. As the old hymn goes, “I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.” But what creates the means by which we find ourselves? Well in this weeks explorations we will focus on grace in action. We explore a key ingredient for the foundation of life to flourish. We will explore the depths behind holding an attitude of gratitude.

As author Paulo Coelho once stated

The darkest hour of the night came just before the dawn

Paulo Coelho

In all the darkened we are exposed to on a daily basis, maybe it is time that we shift our focus towards what is right, what is just, and what is beautiful in our world. I wonder what difference just that small shift in the psyche would create?

On a personal note, once I began to practice gratitude as an exercise, my mind began to see the subtle nuances of goodness that surrounds us. Miracles are abound. However, until I trained my perception to see their presence, I was blind to their nature. An old saying goes “you are what you eat.” This is true, both literally and figuratively. If we look and feel healthy, we are so. In its figurative essence, the information we feed ourselves also dictates the means by which we see the world. What can you train your psyche to reflect upon? As a depth psychotherapist, I would offer one bit of advice. Be careful of what you allow to penetrate the temple of your psyche.

As always, let’s end with an exercise. Let us reflect intently upon what was, so that we may develop gratitude for what is present, right here, right now. Create a 10 minute gratitude prayer, and see how this begins to shift your day. Start it with thanks… “God (your version) I want to thank you for this day. I want to give you thanks for…” See how you feel as you go into the depths of your soul to find those things that are most important. By giving thanks for what is you may just create the movement needed to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.

Namaste, my friends. May blessings find you on your journey to believe, achieve, and advance confidently in the direction of your dreams.

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