One day last week while I was swimming, I realized I was living a perfect moment. The water felt great, I was swimming with ease (sometimes it feels like a struggle when I swim.) I could see the sunny sky from the water, and the palm trees. Yesterday was perfect from the moment I woke up until I went to bed last night (thank you, kiddos!). Almost every day I give enthusiastic thanks for the privilege of living in such a beautiful part of the world. I can tell you, though, for most of my life, it wasn’t like this. A "normal" life is mostly tedium and disillusionment, punctuated by brief moments of happiness, don’t you think? There is a way out of this cycle!
To have more happy moments and make them last longer, the trick is to search for them with more diligence, focus on them, savor them as they happen, and enjoy their memories. Every second you spend relishing your blessings, you’re making yourself more receptive to new blessings. What you focus on in your life is what expands. This is a KEY lesson!
One way to savor happy moments is to write about them, frequently and in detail.
Another way is to constantly be on the look-out for good news. Zig ZIglar, and others, call this being a "good finder". I thought I was one, until a few months ago my coach challenged me to to LOOK MORE CLOSELY for my blessings.
Notice things like:
– The traffic light that turns green at the perfect moment.
– The penny on the street.
– The blue sky.
– The dog that’s ecstatic to see you again.
– Your sleeping child.
– Your orderly drawer (even if it’s only one.) 😉
By giving your attention and energy to these blessings, you invite new blessings. While often we blame God for the things we don’t like in our lives, aka "It must not be God’s will" maybe it’s true that by appreciating what we have even more, God finds it easier to send us additional good fortune.
Today I’m savoring the temperature. It’s a cool May morning and I know hot summer days are on the way. And yes it’s far easier for me to be happy with warm weather, than with cold. Still, I’m going to enjoy and cherish this day like I mean it.
What are you savoring today? Sharing with us helps you extend its glow.
