Issue #12: When We Appreciate The Little Things

plus two journal prompts

🌿 Take a moment to appreciate the small things in your life. Something that brings you joy or increases the sensation of ease in your body.

✒️ “Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.” - Mother Teresa

💡High volumes of TV watching reduces cognitive function. A study from 2015 showed that high volumes of TV time and low amount of physical activity raises risk of reduced cognitive function later in life. So turn off that TV, go for a walk and read more!

🍵 I’m drinking a delicious vanilla infused Thai Chai while sitting on the front porch listening the chorus of birds welcoming the morning SUN! First sun we’ve properly seen in days and I’m pretty sure they’re just as happy about it as I am.

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I really loved watching the sun glint off the residual rain drops on the roses this morning.

It’s The Little Things

It's honestly the small things in life that make the biggest differences overall.

I’m sitting here on the front porch with my back to the sun and my computer screen in the shade so I can see it properly as I write this. We haven’t seen the sun since Thursday last week, and while that isn’t the longest we’ve gone without sun appearances (there have been ranges of four plus weeks before), waking up to blue skies this morning was so uplifting.

I’m not sure how long the sun will last, it’s very probable it won't even last as long as it takes me to write this issue. This time of year it’s hard to know and the weather predictions are rarely correct. Because of this I’m taking full advantage right now and enjoy the rays of warmth warming up and re-energizing my body. 

[Side note] There’s a lot to be said about those sunny rays in terms of health and wellbeing. We may not be plants who need the sun for photosynthesis, but we definitely still need the light, energy and things like vitamin D that it provides. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is no joke. The more you can get outside and take advantage of the light that nature provides, especially in the morning, the better. Not only will your body have more energy and mentally you’ll feel brighter, you’ll also sleep better. And if you need one of those SAD morning sunlight lamps to help, if possible, get one. Here’s one on Amazon that gets good reviews. (No, I don’t get any kickback for recommending it.) 

From my experience, when we get in those rhythms of overwhelm, verging on burnout (or even well into burnout), we forget that it’s those little moments and small acts that make all the difference. We focus on the big end goals (which constantly keep getting added on to) and, more often than not, get caught up in negative thought cycles and limiting beliefs that drag us down. 

But if we take moments throughout the day–especially when we first wake up–to dedicate just one short moment to something beautiful that lifts us up, it can make all the difference.

This short moment can be anything from… 

• taking a few calming breaths, focusing and the gentle in-flow and out-flow of air

• moment of mindful movement helping the body to loosen and energy to flow easier

• stepping outside and upturning the head to the sky while listening to any nature sounds around you

• mindfully sitting with your morning tea or coffee and observing the warmth of the mug against your fingers, the scent reaching your nostrils or the flavors filling the mouth

• looking around you and picking 5-10 things that make you smile

And the list goes on.

The point is, whatever it is, it doesn’t have to be a big investment (time, money, effort). It can be so incredibly small that on the onset it seems almost pointless, but in reality is a life shifter. Those small moments while seemingly insignificant are the makers and creators of worlds. (Hello Evolution, anyone?) 

Taking and appreciating the little things in life evolves the way we move, breathe, connect, think, inspire, love and live. 

I’m not making this up. We can literally change the way our brain is wired by doing this. It’s called neuroplasticity. Our brain is plastic, which means it can change. We might be stuck in downward spirals right now, we might be feeling as though we are drowning in the weight of our responsibilities, struggles, traumas, anxiety, depression, you name it. But your brain, your body, is incredible. It has the power to change. And while some things may take longer to release, and you may need more support for some things more than others, you can make a powerful difference just by savoring and exploring those little moments.

Small Moments and Pain Relief

This week I’m hosting a 5-Day Back Pain Relief Challenge (come join us for free if you haven’t signed up already!). Over the five days I focus on movement, breathwork and release work. But pain doesn’t just come from the way we move or the way we breathe. It’s so much more complicated than that. And while movement and breath work are key components, there are a lot of other things we need to consider like sleep, community, support, trauma, hydration, stress, and the list goes on. 

From my experience dealing with my own back pain (protruding discs, dislocated ribs, herniated discs…) healing is a holistic experience and it isn’t always linear nor is it instant.

It took me a long time to realize that one of the biggest things that was holding me back from healing was trauma my body had been holding since my early 20s. Working through that trauma, little by little, helped relieve the persistent pain and dis-ease I felt.

Even now, I can do all the right movement and breath work practices but if my stress levels are through the roof or I don’t sleep well, I feel those injuries more than usual. 

This is where those small moments come in. 

The more I’m able to pause and appreciate the rare sunny day, or the sound of the raindrops cascading onto the leaves of the trees, or take a short break out of my day to move and breathe, or just to sit quietly and listen and appreciate the natural world around me, the better I feel from the inside out.

Journal Prompts (or ponder moment)

How will you connect to those small moments this week? 

What are little things that brighten up your day or help you feel more at ease physically, mentally, emotionally or even spiritually? 

Observing and mentally pondering these things can be wonderful, but sometimes writing down these moments that you’ve taken or you’ve observed can be incredibly helpful. Not only can it help you explore the little things more and what they mean to you, but it can also be a good reminder that you can turn back to when things get overwhelming and you’re struggling to connect with the light and beauty in your life.

This week’s episode on The Happy Edit Podcast Sarah and I speak with Psychologist and Systemic Family Practitioner, Sue Horrocks. Throughout the episode we explore what neurodivergence is and how the senses can play a key role in making a person feel comfortable, or not, in their present situation. Sue explains how even small adjustments can make a huge difference in making a person feel more at ease and supported. Have a listen!

The Happy Edit podcast is a collaboration between myself and my co-host and sister-in-law, CBT therapist and Person Centered counselor, Sarah Finnegan. We dive into what it means to be happy and how to build a foundation of happiness through different lenses. To us, happiness isn't just being happy, it's an embodied feeling that starts with how we approach life, our actions and our mindset. In Season 3 we’re exploring happiness through the senses. 

Come join us!