It’s the Little Things

Sometimes it’s hard to find the joy in the everyday grind.

You may be experiencing something specific that you can easily identify as the cause of your stress. On the other hand, you might feel uneasy or overwhelmed in general and have a hard time separating it all out because it feels like there are a number of things that are making your life difficult.

Just as little things can add up to make you feel stressed out or unhappy, little things can also do a lot to lift your mood. Figuring out how to see more positives on a daily basis as a way to reduce your stress isn’t always easy or obvious. We are here to help.

There is a book by Ross Gay called The Book of Delights. The chapters consist of short vignettes of things that made him happy, or as the title implies, delighted him. Something about keeping a list of fun, delightful things really resonated with me and I think he has come up with a genius idea that pretty much anyone can benefit from.

Think of things that make you happy or make you laugh – maybe you have a pet and you love the way they greet you when you come home. Maybe you saw a really funny video online that just cracks you up every time you see it or think of it – maybe it was the caption along with the video that was hilarious. Seeing a beautiful red cardinal in a tree against the snow, listening to a song you love, touching a really soft fuzzy blanket, watching a great movie or tv show; the possibilities are endless!

What makes you smile or feel happy is unique to you, your sense of humor and your experiences. Try to create your own list of delights that you can reach for if you need a little lift or bright point in your day. A handwritten list on a piece of paper, a specific file on your computer or a list on your phone are all ways that you can have a designated space to list things that make you feel good.

If you use a smartphone regularly and have access to it whenever you want you can save funny videos to rewatch when you need a laugh. You can take pictures of things you love or find interesting and save them into a folder in your photo app so you can access them easily. By doing that you don’t have to look too far or too hard to find something that makes you happy, it will be right there ready for you!

Don’t underestimate the power of the little things that can make you feel good – they make a difference and can be an easy but very effective tool for you to use in your journey to feeling better overall. Let us help you discover or even rediscover the delights that mean the most to you.

Contact us today to learn how to find delight in the little things.