Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open- John Barrymore.
Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens, black copper kettles and warm woollen mittens… I love that song from Sound of Music. And what a brilliant advice, to think about your favourite things when something untoward happens in your life.
One can easily assume that when you think about your favourite things especially during tough patches of your life you are DENYING the urgency of the difficult moments. That you are ignoring or repressing them or distracting yourself from them.
This might be what we do sometimes, but that is not what I am encouraging you to do here. It is important to bring calm awareness to our difficult moments, but in order to do so it is important to acknowledge a wider reality of our lives.
Within our misery is also present some tiny specks of beauty. And when we challenge ourselves to see it, we move into that wider reality of our lives, from where change can occur.
For 10 minutes today, make a list of things that immediately changes your state of being. That spontaneous hug or and “I love you, mommy” from your little one, a move or time with a special friend. Write about things, people and activities of every day life that make you happy.
Keep an eye out for the next time you are brimming with happiness over something delightful or simple and add it to your list.
Also read : Embracing Now