Present-moment awareness turns ordinary routines into gratitude.
Do you enjoy the blessings in your life, or are you always wanting more?
Dr. Don Colbert, in his book The Seven Pillars of Health, says people need to learn to practice mindfulness to cope with stress and enjoy life.
Mindfulness is the ability to enjoy the present. A lot of people can’t do this; they “go through the motions required to function in the present moment, but they are thinking things like: ‘I’ll be happy when…’
‘I get a bigger place to live.’
‘I get that promotion.’
‘My kids are out of school.’
‘I pay off these bills.’
‘I get a new car.’
Mindfulness is the ability “to find something to enjoy in the present — continually.”
For example, Dr. Colbert says, “If you have to stop at a red light while driving to work, don’t get frustrated, but consider it a welcome opportunity to be thankful for your car, your job, your boss, and so on. A majority of the people… would love to have your car, your job and your boss. Quit complaining about what you don’t have, and start practicing gratitude for what you do have. You can practice gratitude by enjoying the music, the sights around you, the fact that you have air conditioning or heating for your car — and the fact that you have a car and are well enough to drive.”
Reference: Don Colbert, M.D., The Seven Pillars of Health (Siloam, 2007), pp. 234-235
From: http://www.illustrationsforsermons.com/
Dr. Don Colbert is a board-certified family practice physician and bestselling author known for integrating preventive and anti-ageing medicine, nutritional principles, and spiritual well-being. In his widely acclaimed book The Seven Pillars of Health, he outlines a comprehensive fifty-day framework designed to eliminate chronic fatigue, reduce stress, and restore physical vitality through seven fundamental life practices: proper hydration (water), adequate restorative sleep, nutrient-dense “living” foods, regular physical exercise, body detoxification, targeted supplementation, and effective stress management. Emphasising personal responsibility over passive treatment, Dr. Colbert demonstrates how small, consistent daily habits across these core areas empower individuals to optimise their long-term health and enjoy present-moment well-being.
Image: The illustration for the landmark spiritual book of 1971, Be Here Now, by Ram Dass (1931–2019). Born Richard Alpert, the former Harvard psychology professor famously transitioned to a revered Western conduit for Eastern spirituality after meeting his guru, Neem Karoli Baba, in India in 1967. The celebrated book became a countercultural blueprint for mindfulness, service,and radical presence that continues to influence generations.