Small Things

What small things bring you joy?

I'll go first!

Coffee in the morning - starting with the sound of it coming out of my Nespresso machine. Next, creating that foamy cream and pouring it into my cup. Then comes the best part...the first couple of sips of that glorious liquid. Another is getting onto the floor, on my mat and doing yoga. Even if it's only 10 or 15 minutes, being on the ground, stretching and doing poses, that my body always feels so much better after doing, is my favorite way to slowly wake up. Coffee is also the reward afterwards!

A lot of people have morning rituals and, if you're one of them, you understand how we look forward to the simple joy that these daily routines bring. There's gratification when you recognize that finding joy in simple everyday things adds so many positive benefits to our mental and physical health.

The big things are important too - Weddings, graduations, taking trips and getting that job or promotion. Our family has taken a trip to Disneyland almost every year for as long as I can remember and I still get SO excited the night before that I can barely sleep. Having things planned that you look forward to can make life more fun and creates happiness knowing something exciting is in the future.

Have you ever felt sad or bummed out when something big and fun is over? Like after a big holiday or after coming home from a trip? You'd looked forward to and planned for these things, probably even highly enjoyed them, but when they were over you experienced the blues - one of the reasons I like to always have something fun planned in the future!

It is normal to miss the excitement and anticipation, when something you'd been thinking about for so long is in the past. This is another reason to get in the habit of finding joy in small things! Having things that are there waiting for you and you look forward to (even if in a smaller way) is what, I find, adds up to an even greater amount of daily and consistent happiness. 

For more insight on this read this article by The Life of a Social Butterfly.