Life’s Small Pleasures and Joyful Moments
“It’s so much easier to learn to love what you have instead of yearning always
for what you’re missing, or what you imagine you’re missing. It’s so much more peaceful.”
– Anna Quindlen, One True Thing
As I write these newsletters, my aim is to share ideas that can make a positive difference. I aspire to communicate about compelling and useful topics, such as meaning, leadership, resilience, positive psychology, mindfulness, well-being, life force, and intuition.
These are significant issues, but what about life’s small pleasures?
How important are even the briefest moments of joy?
A conversation with a friend last night reminded me that the littlest moments can bring joy and meaning to our personal and professional lives. These brief joyful glimpses, life’s small pleasures, offer opportunities for renewal, peace, and respite. As Gandhi is quoted as saying, “There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.”
Here’s a brief list of a few of life’s small pleasures:
Smiling at someone and silently wishing them a good day
Noticing and feeling the sunshine
Holding hands with a loved one
Laughing out loud
Realizing you have more time to sleep in the morning
Closing your eyes when feeling really tired
Driving the car with the windows open
Listening deeply in a conversation
Sharing a quiet moment with a friend
Receiving a card, letter, or package in the “snail” mail
Lighting a candle and sitting in the light
Reading a book with a child
Listening, singing, or drumming along to a favorite song
Eating food slowly enough to really notice the taste
Pausing to sit quietly for a moment, and letting that be enough
Thinking about something you feel thankful for
Sharing a genuine expression of gratitude, or receiving one
New scientific discoveries about positivity show the remarkable benefits of even the smallest positive moments. Life’s variety of positive emotions are available to any of us “from appreciation to love, from amusement to joy, from hope to gratitude, and then some” (Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, Positivity).
What small pleasures bring you joy or meaning?
Resources You May Find Useful:
- Fredrickson, Barbara (2009). Positivity: Top-Notch Research Reveals the Upward Spiral That Will Change Your Life.Three Rivers Press, NY.
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In light and empowerment,
Ilene
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