Joy Matters:

Why micro-moments of joy are important

Photo by Daniel Mirlea on Unsplash

Lately when I feel happy, I feel guilty. There is so much going on in my country and in the world, that smiling doesn’t feel right, but experiencing joy is important.

Joy isn’t lasting happiness. It’s those short, spontaneous moments of positivity in the everyday; watching a child laugh or a puppy run, seeing a gorgeous sunrise, green hills after a rain, a funny meme, savoring the first sip of delicious coffee, getting into a perfectly hot tub, hearing a song you love in the grocery store, or feeling the warm sunlight hitting your skin.

Photo by Mieke Campbell on Unsplash

Photo by Joe Caione on Unsplash

Tiny moments of joy bring us feelings of pleasure, gratitude, calm, and peace. They help reduce our stress, relax our nervous system, and improve our mood, mental health, and resilience. When we look for and notice the small, good things, over time we start to see things more positively.

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We tend to experience joy through our five senses. What are you seeing, tasting, hearing, smelling, and touching?

Micro-moments of joy can pass by so quickly that it’s easy to take them for granted and not even see that they were there. We can pause and take a deep breath when we feel something good. By slowing down and savoring them, we can feel these positive feelings more fully. Some people find that recording their moments of joy in a journal helps them remember how they felt. You can also think of them before you fall asleep at night.

Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash

For me, my niece getting engaged made me happy and smile. Professionally, a bookstore re-ordered my book and I have my first book signing in March.

What about you? What glimmers of joy have you experienced recently? What made it joyful for you?

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