“Don’t sweat the small stuff” they say. Think about it, it’s easy to get caught up in all the little things that cause stress and ruins our day. Frankly, it’s not worth wasting energy on things that happen on a daily basis that we don’t like. Sure, we could get upset over the fact that someone else took the last good parking spot, or that the grocery store is out of our favorite brand of cereal. Alternatively, we can choose to not make a big deal out of it and use that small, fairly insignificant stuff to practice seeing the positive side of things. Having to park further away means we get to exercise a little and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine for a couple of minutes while we stroll into the office. Not being able to find our favorite cereal means we get a chance to try something new that we may like even better.
There are often two sides to any situation and we have a choice in how we look at it. Make it a point to look on the bright side and watch your happiness improve. Then take it a step further and start to really pay attention to all the good stuff around you. Stop and smell the roses, if you will.
I’m serious. There’s value in noticing all the positive things around you. The little things around you will put a smile on your face if you take the time to notice them. Make it a habit to spend some of your downtime this week savoring the small stuff. Notice how your cup of coffee smells, how it warms your hands on a cool morning, and how it tastes. Pay attention to the birds outside your window and notice how watching them and their antics around the birdfeeder makes you smile. Appreciate the next hug you receive. In other words, savor the small things that make you happy. It may not be much, but it all adds up to a very happy life. Just take the time to notice.
Over the coming weeks, practice noticing and savoring the small stuff. Don’t let a small stress bring you down. Instead, make it a goal to find something positive about everything that happens to you throughout the day. Pay particular attention to all the little things that make you smile and acknowledge them. It won’t take long before you feel this simple little exercise making a big difference in your overall outlook on life.
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