There are some amazing teachers and guides
on our planet, full of amazing wisdoms on how to progress your life, evolve
your soul and open your heart. Sometimes, however, you have to be in the right
mood to even be able to think about picking up a book or listening to a talk.
As an optimist, I was shocked to learn that
for some people, a positive thought is not only impossible, the idea of having
a positive thought actually makes them feel even worse about themselves. I have
also realized from people messaging me after reading my articles that what
seems simple to me feels completely inaccessible to them. Sometimes, a smile, a
small shred of feeling ok is beyond us.
So, for everyone who does not have the time
or the ability to find a simple joy for themselves today, here are some tiny
suggestions that will not change your life, or even your day. They are not
meant to revolutionize who you are today. BUT, one tiny new thing, one tiny
shift, one tiny new thought could possibly be the start of something new. If
you want.
Try one of these, try ten. Just, if you
want to find a tiny bit of joy today, try…
1.
Take a deep breath. In and out.
That’s all. If you really want to achieve big today, do it twice!!
2.
Have a glass of water. Woohoo-
you just did something super healthy!!!! Gold star for you.
3.
Close your eyes. Picture a
butterfly or a kitten or a Superbowl touchdown or something that you enjoy. Smile.
Go on, turn the corners of your mouth up, just a bit.
4.
Imagine, just for a second,
that “what is right with me?” is a better question than “what is wrong with
me?”
5.
Skip up the hallway. It is
really hard to feel sad or grumpy while skipping.
6.
Pretend that you are really
grateful for one thing that you already have in your life.
7.
Put your hand on your heart.
Feel the warmth of your hand over your heart. Now imagine you can feel your
heart. The heart is a great place to go if your mind is giving you a hard time.
8.
OK, here is a big one… I know
you can list 23 things you have already done ‘wrong’ today- from that pastry
for breakfast to thinking mean thoughts about that dude on the bus- but can you
give yourself credit for 23 good things? Because, in order for ‘bad’ to exist,
you have to understand ‘good’. And in order to understand ‘good’, you have to
be good. So, I bet you have done 23 good things today too and completely
ignored them. That glass of water to start with. That kind thought you had
about your friend who messaged you on Facebook. The smile you gave the person
who made your coffee this morning. They are all equally as important as the
so-called bad things. If you look truly, you have as many ‘good’ thoughts and
deeds as ‘bad’ ones, you just don’t pay attention to them.
9.
Think of something you are
looking forward to. Seeing your lover or someone you like, falling into a soft
bed, your next holiday- something that is actually real and happening and
preferably good for you! Just hold that in your mind for a moment and again,
perhaps the corners of your mouth sneak up again. Let them.
10. Look at the sky- blue, grey, rain, night- it is still such an
amazing thing. That is infinity out there!! Find something ordinary to be
astonished by.
11. Think about whatever it is that worries you- money, fashion, weight,
job. Now think way back in history- back before that concept even existed. We
made that up. Not saying it doesn’t matter, but isn’t it totally weird and cool
that we made it up!!??
12. Try this for a new thought.
Whether you are talking to God or the Universe or just your subconscious, try
asking, “please help tomorrow be one bit better”.
None of these will take more than a minute.
The bad news is, that is will affect you. Especially if you do it again
tomorrow. And the day after. Imagine what might happen if you did two of them
next week! And 4 next month.
We all say we want to be happier. It is
probably the most consistently strived for goal in human history. Well,
research shows that no matter what happens to us, good or bad, it is our own
internal set point for happiness that will win. And you can change that set
point. You can actually turn yourself into a happier person. A drip of
happiness today could turn into a river of joy in no time.
Check out a version of this article at The Huffington Post- A Simple Guide To Joy
