Finding happiness has been an elusive thing for me. The happiness of achieving success is fleeting, existing for only a few moments when you find your efforts starting to pay off. Once success becomes the new norm, I am often plagued with self-doubt, preparing myself for the next challenge in life. In the constant ups and downs of striving for success—whatever that may mean—we often overlook the small moments. When they say, “enjoy the journey and don’t focus on the destination,” this is what it really is about….. enjoying the small things in life.
Finding Happiness in a Smile!
One of the simplest yet most powerful thing to find happiness…. is a smile. Looking at yourself in the mirror and smiling first thing in the morning is very self-assuring. You are reassuring yourself by starting your day positively, preparing yourself to face any challenges the day might throw at you. That smile then becomes contagious, spreading positivity from you to the other people around you, thereby making us feel connected with others.
Natural Beauty
Watering my plants, tending to them, and watching birds flying in the sky helps me feel grounded and reminds me of the simple pleasures that surround us. I feel like I am part of this enormous world that somehow maintains a balance despite our best efforts to destabilize it. The sunlight hitting the leaves after heavy rains and creating beautiful patterns on the water droplets, the smell of soil permeating the air when it rains after a hot dry spell—all of these uplift my spirits. They make you feel thankful to God, Nature, or Science, whichever you seek guidance in, for the life you have and the small part you play in the enormity of the universe and beyond.
Simple Pleasures of Daily Chores
The aroma of freshly brewed filter coffee in the morning, the water trickling down my body while having a bath, seeing a clean room after cleaning the house, the comfort of a warm blanket on a cold night, or the taste of our favorite meal—everyday chores, if experienced fully, bring immense joy. Ticking things off my to-do list and seeing it all done at the end of the day brings about a sense of achievement, like having won an award!
Cherished Memories
Today’s photo apps often remind us of what we did last year or throw up some random memory that makes us stop scrolling through apps on our phone and cherish that moment. Whether these memories bring tears of happiness or joy, they remind us of how much we love others and how much we are loved by others.
Quality Time
Spending quality time with loved ones, even in small doses, can be incredibly fulfilling. A brief conversation with a friend, a family game night, or a quiet evening with a partner can create lasting memories and strengthen relationships. These moments of connection remind us of the importance of the people in our lives. Whether it’s children or fur babies or any other pets…. the child proudly showing their latest creation, the wag of a dog’s tail, the purr of a cat, or even the sight of fish swimming in an aquarium can be soothing and remind us of the unconditional love we have for them, demonstrating our capacity to love immensely.
Music, Art, Writing
These activities not only help soothe our minds but also allow us to express ourselves and discover things about ourselves we might not be fully aware of. Sometimes, I find myself humming a random song and then realize that the lyrics are actually what I am feeling. It’s like my brain is sending me indirect signals to be more aware of what I might be actually feeling.
Conclusion
Finding happiness is not about the great big moments but about doing multiple small things that bring immense joy. They say time and tide wait for no man, but if you want to slow down time…. enjoy the small things happening to you all the time. You will suddenly find you have not just a lot of time on hand but also good time!
What are the little things that you do that bring you immense joy?
Follow Peppered With Stories on WordPress.com
Leave a Reply to JoiCancel reply