Everyone wishes and seeks Peace and Joy. And only after the mind maintains a calm and equanimous centre, we can hope to achieve this.
Some may be born that way but most of us require conscious effort to achieve it consistently. And if we are just covering it but inside is not calm, sooner or later it starts bringing stress followed by health issues, and relationship issues with others in our world.
“Calmness is the cradle of power.” – J.G. Holland
Let us look at small things first, and not even look at the BIG things of life that take away peace and can bring irritation, even if it is subtle enough that no one else notices. But the fact is we can not hide that irritation from our own body and there is change in the biochemistry of the body.
What are some small things that bring inner irritation to you?
Waiting in line for something; a very slow driver in front of you on the road; waiting for the traffic lights to turn green when you are rushing to somewhere; receiving not so nice comments from other people on social media; people who get on the lift/ in the train, without giving other people the chance to exit first; a car on the road that doesn’t turn off its blinkers; when something such as your mobile phone and computer is not functioning properly; when internet is slow; when someone around you eats loudly; others not replacing the toilet roll; or leaving the toilet seat up. You may have another one/ few more of those that do it for you!
Pay attention to the small, little events in your life that irritate you or those that make you want to complain to others and take away your peace or joy. Do we let these minor, external events dictate how we want to feel inside? It depends on us and what kind of thoughts we choose to focus on and rule our life. Each of these circumstances can sap our energy, however small. But it also gives us an opportunity to practice equanimity and stay centred.
Now let us look at some of the small, beautiful things that make people happy, without even looking at the BIG things of life.
Seeing the sunrise and sunset; running into a friend you have not seen for a long time; making someone laugh; sleeping while the rain gently beats against your window; an excited child smiling at you in public; getting the parking spot right next to the entrance of big shopping centre; seeing children laughing together; listening to music you have not heard in a long time; receiving a sincere complement; the delicious smell in your kitchen when you bake or cook/ your mother/ beloved bakes or cooks; finding money you had forgotten about; dance like no one is watching; laughing till your muscles start aching; spending time with your beloved pet; ticking off everything from your to-do list; walking barefoot on grass.
These ideas are a good place to start with and you may have a list of your own.
All it takes is the awareness to take note of all the beautiful little things in your life. You can always rush through life without looking and getting present to it. But you can also stop for a moment to appreciate the simple pleasure you have just come across.
If you become more aware of the joyful little things in your life, your life will become much more pleasant. These seemingly little things hold the wonderful power to take you from an average life to a pleasant life, to turn stressful days into days that are a little bit better.
To maximize the power of the little things that give you joy, see if you can bring more of them into your day-to-day life. The more of these joys that you can include in your daily routine, the more pleasant will your days become.
What Makes Life Worth Living: Create Those Tiny Epic Moments
“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it’s worth watching.” ~Unknown
Upon first reading this quote, I thought “Unknown” was talking about living life large. Filling days with great achievements and big moments. Going for it. Having no regrets.
A high school English teacher Monique Cassidy wrote about a short story she had her students read called “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff, an American author. In it, a man was shot in the head and dying.
I don’t want to spoil the story for you, but this man’s last thoughts were not the big things of life.
His last thoughts were the small, visceral moments. In particular, playing baseball in a field when he was a child.
Let us all enjoy the yumminess of the tiny moments that make up our life. Because these are also the moments that collectively create a life well-lived.
What is a small, simple thing that happens in everyday life that makes you feel happy, peaceful and joyful? Share yours to us. I would absolutely love to get to know you and hear from you. You can share them by sending us an email or share on Facebook page or Instagram page
Tough question to ask, but very powerful one that Dr Stephen Covey, author of ” 7 Habits of Highly Effective People ” would like you to think about it.
Begin With the End in Mind: How Writing Your Own Eulogy Can Set You On the Right Path!
What do you think you will see and listen when you are “there”?
