Happiness. Ultimately, we all want to be happy. There are countless books about what happiness is and how to become happy, and philosophers and scientists have been exploring the subject for centuries.
But that’s not what I want to talk about in this blog.
I’m talking about something much smaller: those moments when you suddenly feel happy for a moment — small moments of happiness. They are there throughout the day. But do we notice them?
Why we so easily miss moments of happiness
Our lives are often quite busy: work, social life, family, household chores, exercise, and so on. We are also used to looking ahead. We make plans, our calendars are full, and our minds are often occupied with what we still have to do, what we want to achieve, or what could be better.
At the same time, we can spend a lot of time thinking about the past. Our minds tend to focus on what didn’t feel good, what could have gone differently, or on events that brought up emotions that don’t necessarily make us feel any happier.
When we spend so much time thinking about the future and the past, we can easily miss what is already pleasant in the here and now.
Perhaps you know the book The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. The idea of being more present in the moment was a real eye-opener for me at the time. At the same time, I realised that such an insight doesn’t mean you suddenly live completely in the present from one day to the next. Awareness often grows step by step, through experience and practice.
I notice that many of these moments for me happen when I am outdoors: really looking at a flower, eating the first vegetables from my garden, or walking through the woods with my dog. And then coming home and hearing the little sounds she makes while she sleeps.
But it can also be a good conversation with someone, a moment when you laugh wholeheartedly, or a delicious piece of cake.
Something small doesn't have to be less meaningful than something big
A beautiful trip can give you something to look forward to for weeks and provide many wonderful moments while you’re away. But you can’t go on holiday every week. Big events are special precisely because they don’t happen every day.
Small moments of happiness happen much more often. Sometimes even several times a day.
Your first sip of coffee in the morning. A ray of sunshine on your face after a cold and grey day. A bird that comes and sits nearby. Finally getting something done that you’ve been struggling with for a while. Or that first sip of beer when it’s really hot outside (guilty! 😉).
The art is to notice these small moments and enjoy them.
You can learn to notice moments of happiness
As you can see, there are countless ways to experience small moments of happiness throughout the day.
In my previous blog about slowing down, I share a number of ways to bring a little more calm and mindfulness into your day. This can also help you become more aware of the little things that make your day just a bit nicer.
Here are a few ideas that may help you practise awareness and become more conscious of these small moments of happiness in your daily life:
- Gratitude. At the end of the day, write down three things you were grateful for that day. (For more information, exercises and a video, see my blog: [title of gratitude blog].)
- Photograph something beautiful. Take your time. Look, explore, and become aware of what you are seeing.
- Connect a scent to a pleasant moment. Is there a scent that makes you happy? Perhaps the smell of apple pie or a particular incense? Or add a drop of essential oil to a diffuser or aroma stone. (Link to Creations.)
- Make something. Bake something, work in the garden, draw, sew, or make something else with your hands. It doesn’t have to be perfect or useful. Sometimes the pleasure is simply in the making.
- End your day with a question. Ask yourself: What made me smile today?
Small moments of happiness don't make an ordinary day perfect
Being happy or feeling happy doesn’t suddenly happen because you simply think positively and make yourself see everything as beautiful and good.
Life can be difficult sometimes. Sometimes those difficult periods are short; sometimes they last longer. A cliché, but true: without the highs, there are no lows.
And although small moments of happiness won’t take away your problems, they can contribute to your overall sense of wellbeing. A smile, a warm feeling, being touched by something beautiful for a moment — that counts too.
You don’t have to go looking for happiness. You can also learn to notice it when it comes your way.
My name is Jolinda. With Flow Spirit, I guide people towards more peace, balance, and connection with themselves through energy work, intuitive coaching, and Reiki.
In addition, I enjoy sharing inspiration here with my blogs, about conscious living, herbs, nutrition, relaxation, and the little things that make life just a bit more beautiful.
Do you feel this resonates with you, you are very welcome to contact me.