Most of us spend a large portion of our lives lost in the past or the future. Dwelling on the past can make us feel regretful, anxious, or sad while worrying about the future only leads to anxiety and fear. Do not get me wrong, it’s okay to think about the past or the end, but it’s crucial that we don’t forget to live in the present. Embracing the present moment helps us appreciate the little things in life and find joy in simple pleasures.
We all want happiness, but sometimes it can be hard to find it. Life is challenging, making it difficult to feel happy and make positive changes. Yet satisfaction is, of course, so important. Being happy can change our perspective on everything and make us healthier – our blood pressure will be lower, our hearts will have to work less hard, and our mental health will be more stable. This is why knowing how to find happiness in even the littlest things in life is good. The more we can do this, the better life will be.
In today’s blog, I will share my tips on focusing on the present moment and deriving happiness from it.
How To Find Happiness In The Little Things: Slow Down And Appreciate The Moment
The world is fast-paced, and we’re constantly bombarded with news, pressure to choose something, pressure to buy anything, information, and instructions about what we should or should not be doing. It’s easy to get so caught up in the demands and distractions that we don’t have time for anything else, including being happy.
If you slow down and appreciate the moment more, whatever that moment might be, you’ll find happiness waiting for you. You might stop for a minute or two on your way to work to enjoy a view.
You might pause during your lunch break to enjoy your products from Snusdaddy. You might stop worrying about your deadlines and walk or step out into your backyard to look at the flowers. Small moments like this will help reset your mind and ensure that you are more focused and energized when you get back to whatever you’re doing, and you’ll be happier too.
Practice Gratitude 
Sometimes a whole day – or maybe a string of days – might go by, and you don’t feel like anything good happened. You might even think you’re having a streak of bad luck, or if you’re not superstitious, you might still feel miserable that nothing has been overly optimistic. The question is, though, is this the case? Have no positive events been happening? It might just be that you overlooked them. This is why it’s a good idea to practice gratitude.
To do this, you take a moment to think back over the day and choose three (or more if you can) good things that happened that you can be thankful for. This could be the smallest of things, such as receiving a delivery, the rain stopping just in time for you to go out, a discount on your favorite food at the store, and so on. This way, you’ll make yourself feel happier and see how appreciating small things can boost your happiness levels quickly.
Engage Your Senses
Another excellent way to find more minor things in life that can make me happy is to engage my senses. When we pay more attention to what we see, hear, smell, taste, and touch, we realize that these things make us happy and that we’re glad to have been able to experience them.
So when you have the chance, make sure you engage your senses as much as you can, and you’ll find the most minor things in life that make you happy. Once this becomes a habit, you’ll see more and more small things that please you, and your happiness levels will increase.
Stay Mindful
Be mindful of your thoughts and emotions. Many of us get caught up in our heads and miss out on the present moment. Train your brain to focus on the present moment rather than letting your thoughts wander. Slow down a little bit and savor what’s happening right now. Mindfulness is being present with all five senses. Instead of just hearing a sound, tune in and identify where it’s coming from and where it’s going. Doing this trains your brain to focus on the present moment, leaving no space to worry about the past or future.
Stop overthinking
Most of the time, what we’re stressed about did not happen or is not happening right now. Significant anxiety and worrying can not only be mentally destabilizing but can also harm you physically. Instead of worrying, try staying in the moment. If something comes to your mind and is stressing you out, notice it, then let it go. You can revisit it later, but focus on the present for now.
- Start by recognizing when you’re overthinking: When you dwell on a particular thought or worry about something that hasn’t happened yet, take a moment to acknowledge that you’re overthinking.
- Take a deep breath: Once you’ve recognized that you’re overthinking, take a deep breath to help calm your mind and body.
- Ask yourself if the thought is productive: When you notice that you’re overthinking, ask yourself if the thought is constructive or simply causing unnecessary stress. If it’s not practical, try to let it go.
- Focus on the present moment: Instead of getting lost in your thoughts, focus on the present moment. Take a look around and notice your surroundings. Focus on your breath and the sensations in your body.
- Redirect your thoughts: If your mind keeps returning to the same idea, try redirecting your thoughts to something more positive or productive. You could try meditating, journaling, or talking to someone about your feelings.
- Practice self-compassion: Remember that it’s okay to have negative thoughts and emotions. Be kind to yourself and practice self-compassion when you’re struggling with overthinking.
By practicing these steps regularly, you can learn to recognize when you’re overthinking and take steps to redirect your thoughts and focus on the present moment.
