Finding Joy in the little things life offers

Yesterday I went to a hometown parade. It was the town I grew up in, nestled in the Puget Sound of Washington State. I went with my daughter and cousin. The weather was picture perfect, lots of kids, music, and everyone was there to have fun. I felt grief melt away and in came joy and peace in my heart. There's a lot of joy to find in the little things life offers if you're willing to open your eyes and recognize them when they come your way.  

Research shows there are major benefits to savoring momentary joy, whether it's a delicious piece of chocolate cake, the sun on your face, or a cat video. You can relish the littlest things life has to offer and it's great for your happiness levels and can even contribute to your long-term wellbeing.

Physiologically, embracing those little joys can contribute to your vagal tone, which is responsible for your autopilot. Your autopilot system is in charge of all the really important things your body does for you without you having to think about it, like breathing, digesting food, and beating your heart! This is also linked to stress regulation and mood disorders, so the more stimulation your vagus nerve gets, the better off you will be.

Socially, joy and positive emotions help deepen bonds, whether you're looking to nurture friendships, familial bonds, or romantic relationships. Of course, healthy relationships are beneficial to everyone involved, so it's a win-win situation.

Positive emotions are beneficial to your happiness levels, and with those positive emotions, you may notice that you naturally become a more optimistic person. And the more your optimism grows, the greater your resilience levels become.

The big question might be just how many moments of joy you need to get all those incredible benefits.

There isn't a magic number – but you can make it your mission to find five moments of joy on any given day. You might want to max it out and aim for five for every negative emotion that comes your way. It's up to you, you can experiment with how much joy you need for it to be your overriding feeling at the end of the day.

Finding Those Moments

You shouldn't have to look far for moments of joy, but if you feel like you need help here are a few tips.

You can start by changing up your routine a little to include five to ten minutes for you to meditate on a specific joy – it might be an extra special cup of coffee that you take time to foam your milk or sitting down to eat breakfast instead of hovering over the sink.

Humor is an excellent way to find joy and there are funny things everywhere, so look for the humor and let yourself laugh when you find it. You don't need to sit down and watch standup comedians deliver a tight five to give yourself a hearty laugh.

If you live your life by routine, that's good, but you can inject a bit of spontaneity to get a spark of joy you're not used to. It could be as simple as picking up the phone and calling a friend you don't normally get to talk to.

Your friends and family are a great way to enjoy joy, even if it's just hanging out with your pet. Strengthening social bonds is a sure way to find joy.  

Saving the best for last, the best way to find joy is to start paying attention to what life is offering you. It's the simplest things that can deliver the most joy – like finding a perfectly ripe piece of fruit in season. From noticing your favorite neighborhood bird lingering on the branch outside your window to hearing your favorite person laugh like no one is watching.

Pay attention to the changing of the seasons and the way the sun seems to shine a little bit brighter today. Enjoy the way the raindrops bounce on the driveway or the noise they make when they hit the window. There is so much about the world to enjoy and the more present you are, the more you will notice those moments of joy.

As an Essential Emotions Coach I can help you move from feeling joyless to feeling joyful. You can get the details here.