Focus on These 8 Small Things to Rediscover the Joy in Your Life

Every day, lay a brick.

“It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.” ― Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

Self-help gurus always tell you to “zoom out” and “see the bigger picture.” But it’s the small things in life that matter.

Building your dream life isn’t done with one grand gesture but with hundreds of bricks carefully placed and perfected. While significant events occur occasionally, small ones happen at every moment.

The pressure to have grand successes may put you under much physical and mental strain. You’re always wanting more instead of taking time to enjoy the simple things.

Let’s start being grateful for what we have while preparing for a better future.

1. Seeing old things with fresh eyes.

You’re used to how your house looks. It all feels a bit mundane. But try taking a look with fresh eyes.

Pay attention to any sentimental objects you own. Spend some time thinking about the meaning and memories infused in them.

Do you have any mementos from previous adventures? Gifts from family? How about old photos and the memories they create?

I don’t have many photos of my dad. But although he died in 2019, if I see pictures of our holidays in Scotland, I’m back there playing the same games and walking across the same beautiful landscapes.

2. This everyday act will engage all your senses.

Next time you eat, indulge all your senses. Live in the moment and think about what you’re doing, starting with preparing the food.

I find cooking tedious and repetitive. But when I focus on engaging my senses, I hear the steak sizzle, smell the aromas, see the juices flowing and take every bite slowly. I feel the temperature and the mix of flavors.

You took unconnected ingredients and made something out of them.

3. Screenshotting compliments and rising above hatred.

Start noticing all the good things other people do. When I get a compliment about my writing, I screenshot it. Normalize paying more attention to praise than spiteful criticism.

I’ve been suffering for 30 years because of what my school abusers used to say to me. I could hear all the compliments in the world, but one criticism would send me spiraling back down. It shouldn’t be this way.

As well as verbal praise, notice when someone does something nice for you. Appreciate these gestures and show love in return. You never know if you’ll see that loved one again.

4. The concrete jungle is killing people.

For the sake of your mental health, you need to get outside. For those of us in the suburbs or city, it’s hard to get into nature and find somewhere beautiful. We rarely stop, smell flowers, or stroll by a gentle brook. Everywhere seems like a concrete jungle, and it’s killing us.

Find somewhere beautiful, or at least with a few trees or a shade of green. Notice the beauty in the world — the bright blue sky, the plants that shimmer in the sun. You may even be lucky enough to see some animals. This is soul medicine.

5. Do you ever actually LISTEN to music?

Most of us put music on in the background and do other things. When was the last time you did nothing else but listen?

It helps to close your eyes to control your waning concentration. Listen to the melodies and harmonies. How instruments sound together. Can you pick them out?

What does the music bring up in your mind? What might the composer have been feeling when he wrote it? What meaning were they trying to convey?

6. The hidden magic of this unconscious act.

We breathe without conscious thought. And that’s a good thing, or you wouldn’t be able to do any other activity. But this stops us from realizing how fantastic breathing is.

If you focus on it, breathing calms the mind and body, releases tension, and keeps us healthy.

Start by taking some deep breaths and focusing on the benefits you are experiencing through this simple act. I’ve saved myself from many panic attacks just by using this method.

7. Your phone doesn’t have to be the enemy.

At a time when we have more methods and ways to meet people than ever before, we’ve never been so isolated. But let’s stop hating so much on technology.

You have a mobile phone that can call people, text and email them and converse on social media. Instead of being told to put your phone down and preached to about the dangers of being unproductive, take advantage of that little device. Contact someone you love today.

Then put the phone down and listen to some geek talking about his productivity routine.

8. Another way gurus are lying to you.

How often do you wake up and feel good and optimistic about the day?

Sleeping enough is vital for my mental health. Otherwise, my symptoms will start getting worse. But it’s essential for anyone. You can’t function if you don’t sleep.

Again, those productivity experts you listen to who advocate anything less than 8 hours of sleep per night are doing you a disservice. Yes, you could be at your desk writing at 4 am, but at what cost?

So experiment with mindfulness, relaxation, scents, or a special tea. Whatever it takes to sleep well.

If your schedule allows, try to take breaks throughout the day. Keep your mood and energy high.

Maybe you’re already successful?

“Sometimes the little opportunities that fly at us each day can have the biggest impact.” ― Danny Wallace, Yes Man

Sometimes you need to stop struggling to achieve a goal and just be. There are wonders all around you, but you don’t see them because you’re pounding away on an emotional treadmill, trying to reach your version of success.

But maybe success is already here. Perhaps success is in the joy you’re too busy to notice.

To get where you want, you have to appreciate where you are. What can you do right now to start noticing your blessings?

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