Finding Pleasure in Everyday Life
~*~
A few years ago, my friend gave me the following quote by British
novelist, Iris Murdoch, on a tiny slip of paper:
"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats."
For some reason, this simple line struck a cord with me and I've kept it
with me ever since. Over the last few months, it's been a helpful
reminder of how the little things we do that bring us pleasure can be an
enormous gift of comfort during difficult times. This week, I thought I'd
share a few of my favorite examples with you in the hopes that you find
one or two new ideas that might bring you a little happiness, too.
Here are some of the things I do that bring pleasure to life:
~*~ Get lost in a good novel.
~*~ Eat really good gum drops.
~*~ Run in the rain when it's warm out.
~*~ Bake a cake for our construction crew.
~*~ Leave funny messages on a friend's voicemail.
~*~ Put a few drops of a favorite essential oil on my pillow at bedtime.
~*~ Spend the day working in a comfy well-worn t-shirt and flannel pants.
~*~ Stay up late and watch back-to-back episodes of LOST on DVD.
~*~ Take long, hot baths with my great smelling oils and candles.
~*~ Warm the bed with an electric blanket well before I go to sleep.
~*~ Sit quietly and complete a round of prayers on a special set of prayer
beads I keep by my bed.
~*~ Collect meaningful quotes in a journal to read when I need a little
inspiration.
~*~ Buy a beautiful teacup at a local antique shop and use it as soon as I
get home.
~*~ Sit on the deck of our new house and search for Monarch butterflies.
~*~ Put lots of Nourishing Lavender Lotion on my feet with warm socks
before going to bed.
~*~ Sit by the window with a cup of tea and watch squirrels scurrying
around collecting acorns in the backyard.
These small acts of pleasure cost very little money (if any), and can
easily fit into a busy day. If you take a few moments to think about it,
I bet you can come up with your own list of pleasures -- the kind of
things that add joy to your day, soothe your heart, or calm your mind when
things get crazy.
When we're going through a stressful time, it's easy to lose track of the
things that make us feel good. So, years ago I made a list in a journal
and copied it so I'd always have access to it. Over time, I've added to
it as well. It's a great exercise -- something you could do right now.
See our "Take Action Challenge" below and get a head start on adding a
little more joy to your life. Remember, pleasure is good for the soul.
~*~ Take Action Challenge ~*~
What brings you pleasure? Stop for a moment and jot down four or five
things that you do to make yourself feel comforted. Do you sing, listen
to great music, doodle, or buy yourself flowers? Once you have a few
ideas in mind, do one of them today. If you have a hard time thinking of
examples, don't worry. It only means that it's been too long since you've
thought about your soul-care. Close your eyes and scan your past for
clues. They're there. Just wait . . .
DE-STRESS IN 10 MINUTES
1. Gentle breathing (1 Minute)
Sit comfortably on a chair, with your back straight and both feet on the ground. If you can’t sit down, stand as straight as possible without slouching or leaning against anything. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Try to let thoughts pass by, rather than pondering on them or daydreaming.
2. Tense and Relax (4 Minutes)
Make a fist with your right hand and tense all the muscles in your forearm. Hold the tension for five seconds and then relax your muscles for about ten. Now do the same thing for each part of your body. Tighten each group of Muscles, hold the tension and then relax fully.
3. Visualise (3 Minutes)
Next, try to recall a place or time where you felt content and relaxed. Use your imagination to reconstruct the place and how you felt when you were there. It might have been lying on a beach listening to the sea or mountains where you were hiking. Let yourself become totally immersed in the scene.
4. Let Go (1 Minute)
Once your mind and body are completely relaxed, let go of your stress. Visualise a stream of light or energy pouring through your body and easing your stress away, or imagine the stress leaving your body with each breath out. Picture yourself getting through the rest of the day without stress by trying to anticipate any potentially difficult situations. Thinking about how you can get through them calmly will help you to put this into practice.
5. Stretch (1 Minute)
Keep your eyes closed and breathe in and out deeply. Enjoy the feeling of relaxation and rest. Move your fingers and toes playfully. Then breathe in and stretch your arms up over your head. Stretch your legs out in front of you. Now slowly open your eyes.
PRACTICE RELAXING: the more often you do this ten minute stress relief plan, the better. You may be surprised at how relaxed and confident you start to feel, and how the challenging parts of your life no longer feel nearly so daunting and stressful.