Rejoicing in small things is a skill that we lose as adults, but that we can regain. Life is not always made up of big events, but almost every day is full of tiny moments that can warm you up. Here are my personal principles that help me notice and appreciate the simple joys:
- Slow down for at least a few minutes a day
When we’re constantly in a rush, even the most beautiful things fly by. I try to pause – sit down with a cup of tea by the window, turn off my phone and just be in the here and now. These moments of silence help to “reboot” and feel connected to myself again.
- Keep a gratitude journal
Every night I write down at least three things that made me happy during the day. It could be a smile from a passerby, a delicious lunch, a nice little thing at work. Gradually the brain itself begins to notice more good things.
- Being attentive to sensations
I’m learning to enjoy the aroma of my morning coffee, the softness of my plaid, the sound of rain outside my window. This simple “noticing” of bodily sensations helps ground me and feel the pleasure of the moment.
- Don’t compare yourself to others
Social media can insinuate that others have brighter and more fulfilling lives. But I remind myself: my life is mine, and it has its precious moments. The key is to learn to appreciate them, not compare them.
- Do something small but enjoyable every day
It can be a walk without a purpose, a favorite song in your headphones, a book, a hot bath. You don’t have to wait for a weekend or vacation to allow yourself joy. Small acts of kindness for yourself are like drops that fill a vessel.
- Learn from children and animals
I often notice the joy of a dog on a simple walk or a child laughing at the simplest of things. It’s a reminder: joy is in the reaction, not the magnitude of the event.
- Stop waiting for the “perfect moment.”
Sometimes we put off happiness for later – “here’s a vacation”, “here’s when I’ll buy an apartment”…. But life passes between these milestones. I’m learning to live in the now. Even a day with ordinary things can become warm if you look at it with your heart.
Joy in the little things is not utopian or naive. It is a mature way of living fully, when you realize that it is the small things that make the big things. How do you learn to rejoice in the simple?