Here we are, entering the holiday season. The financial crisis has been dominating the news and pummeling our consciousness. For many, emotions have been on a tiring rollercoaster ride as the stock market drops and dives, breaking records as never before. As we look across the country, we see the fear factor rising. Our faith, trust and hope are being challenged and for many, it may seem as though there is little to celebrate or be grateful for.

One of my favorite workbook lessons in A Course in Miracles affirms: “Love is the way I walk in Gratitude.” Although the lesson teaches, “You have been given everything,” it acknowledges that it is difficult to be grateful for all that we have been given when we see the world “amiss.”

Exactly, what does this mean?

It means that it is a matter of what we choose to look at. Or, in other words, our experiences are created by what we focus on. For example, imagine that you are walking into a large building for the first time. There are several rooms and being the liberal thinker that you are, you walk into one of the rooms to your left. You appear to notice some things first: a Zen fountain in the center of the room, a large wall painting to your right. As you begin to notice more objects in the room, you see a tall bookcase in the far corner of the room, so you head over to look at it and notice a variety of books. In the midst of one shelf you spot a book that you’ve been searching for. “At last, here it is. The book I’ve been looking for!” But in reality, there’s no “at last” because the book was there all along. It didn’t show up at a specified time, nor did it just arrive. Everything in that room was always there; you’re seeing it didn’t put it there, it just took your being there to recognize it. The higher truth is that all things, all possibilities, all opportunities, all solutions – are there before we see them. Every imaginable resolution to every imaginable challenge is available to us right now. It all depends on what we choose to see.

When you see your stocks dropping value, do you see a financial calamity or a chance to practice patience and faith? And if you really want to tune into your inner abundance, do you see it as a chance to tithe your time, talent and treasure? When you are given notice of a layoff from your company, do you choose to see it as a horrible disaster or an opportunity to do something that you’ve been wanting to do, but perhaps, have been too afraid to try?

All possibilities exist at all times. Gratitude is the dimension in which we can clearly experience these infinite possibilities. Gratitude is an aspect of love; we cannot experience one without the other. As we experience the winter months and the season of giving, I invite you to take the Gratitude Challenge, to be willing to see the lesson, meaning, growth and light in every single situation in your life. This isn’t merely about becoming conscious of the good in your life, but being able to face the areas of your life that you’d rather not look at. Remember: not facing a situation gives it power over you. And I’m not talking about faking it until you make it. I’m talking about faith-in-it as you make it. No less that that will set you free. No less then that will allow you to shift from fear to love. No less than that will inspire feelings of gratitude and abundance within you.

In my own life, I’ve been using a spiritual practice for many years that has never failed to create a radical shift in my perception – a miracle. This process involves four steps, that when practiced with pure intention will elevate your awareness and create an evolutionary leap in consciousness:

• Notice the situation that disturbs your inner peace, bothers you, annoys you or irritates you in any way.

• Ask for guidance from your inner self to see the highest truth within the situation.

• Surrender your perception and attachment to seeing the situation a certain way based on past experiences. Ask yourself, “Would I rather be right or happy?” Am I willing to release my preconceived notions, doubts, cynicism and be willing to have a little faith that I may not be seeing all of the possibilities within the situation?

• Appreciate the shift in perception that is on its way. This is a form of pro-active gratitude which includes being willing to see all of the good in your life, especially those frequently over-looked blessings that are happening all day long.

The aero dynamics of flight have always existed. It just took until 1903 for the Wright Brothers to uncover them. Likewise, the technology to transport man to the moon has always been there, it just needed the scientists from NASA to discover it – and they did because they had faith in it until they made it. The acronym for the four steps I shared with you is N.A.S.A. It’s a reminder that everything is also there for you. You need only to have faith in it as you make it.

Laura V. Grace (formerly Laura Hyde) is the spiritual leader of the Circle of Spiritual Enlightenment in San Luis Obispo, CA: www.spiritualcircle.org. She is a national speaker and author of the books “Gifts of the Soul” and “The Intimate Soul.” Visit www.lauragrace.net.