SelfImprover.info

Life today can really get us down. We rush and hurry through each day doing what is necessary and not having any time to stop and enjoy the things we like to do. When we rush and hurry through life by the end of it all, we ourselves, feel rushed and hurried; we feel harassed and discontent.

I know the day does not often seem long enough, that by the time we have done all the necessary things, work, cleaning, cooking etc there seems no time left to stop and smell the roses.

I don’t know how often I use to find myself rushing through the chores, quickly stuffing things in the dishwasher or dryer, throwing together an evening meal or skipping breakfast to make it to work on time. And by the end of the day these actions never seem to provide more time to rest or enjoy life, they just seem to add to the feelings of discontent and exhaustion.

Our lives are filled to the brim with jobs, families, goals and expectations and we often overlook the very simple everyday opportunities granted us to find joy and happiness. Each and every day is a day in our life, not a day to be spent merely toiling and working towards something in the future, but a day to be lived, enjoyed and appreciated for the now.

The key is to find happiness in the everyday, to acknowledge and enjoy the little things and find joy in the small, simple pieces of our busy, hurried lives.

In the gaps between the big things there are all the little chores, rituals and aspects of each day, that if we take note, can provide us with an opportunity to find a little more fulfilment, peace and happiness.

Because I still struggle sometimes and because I see people around me everyday still looking for a little more peace, contentment and joy from life I wanted to share 5 top opportunities each of us have for living a happier and more fulfilling life!

1. Slow down

We all can gain so much from the simple notion of taking life a little slower. Slow down our busy lives and try not to do, be, see and have so many things. Slow down our minds that are always rushing ahead to the next thing we have to do and not allowing for patience and satisfaction from the moment.

Take stock of all the things that make up your life and weed out the unnecessary to allow more time for the essential and the special. Start by enjoying or at the very least allowing a sense of satisfaction from the essential daily aspects of our lives. The cleaning, the cooking, the job, the travelling, the chores and errands and household tasks, these fill our lives every day and don’t have to be a dreaded part of life.

Take a little more time and do things thoroughly, if you can’t do it all in one day don’t beat yourself up over it, live with the mess, the unfinished chore and do some tomorrow. Whether it is doing the dishes, scrubbing the shower or folding the clothes, try not to see these things as obstacles to a happy life but a part of one.

Don’t rush; allow yourself a sense of achievement and satisfaction from a job well done. It can fill each day with a little more pleasure if you can escape the notion of having to rush through chores and tasks to reach what is on the other side, because quite often it is just more of the same: )

2. Enjoy what you already have

Trying to fill our lives with more stuff, more things, more money, bigger things, better things, to be more beautiful, more fashionable, better looking, thinner, richer, more successful can be exhausting and disenchanting way to live. Where do all these desires come from? How many are founded on what we really need in our lives to be happy and content?

Look at what we already have in our abundant, fortunate lives. Find aspects of your life now that make you happy and content and spend a little less time chasing after things that in the end may not be worth it.

Look to your family, friends, lifestyle, your home, your life and the world around you. Enjoy what is right in front of you and avoid spending each day struggling after unrealistic and empty ideas. Make true goals based on the things you honestly want in your life and aim towards these instead.

3. Make something/Do something/Be a part of Something

Choosing to create and give rather than take and have is a wonderful step towards a more fulfilling and contented life. It can be as simply as baking some cookies for your family or friends, organising a party or event to spend time with loved ones or joining a group or community activity that involves something you are interested in or passionate about.

Really this idea is limited only by your imagination. If we can focus a little more or being a positive active player in our lives and the lives of others, even small, simple actions can have a vast and changing effect on our everyday life.

4. Share time with others

Each day we are granted opportunities to engage with others in so many ways. From driving our children to school, having breakfast with our family, sharing lunch with work colleges, visiting friends or curling up on the couch with our partner, to sharing a seat on the train, standing in a line at the grocery store or simple passing people on the street.

See each one of these times as a way we share our lives with others and enjoy the moment. Make sure to acknowledge the sense of comfort and joy we can gain from the company of others and aim to share this with as many people as you can. It can be as simple as a smile, a hello a hug or kind gesture, know that our lives are shared in one way or another with all those around us and acknowledge the joy and peace that can be found in these simple acts.

5. Create time for yourself

Although this may at first glance seem difficult or albeit impossible this is in fact one of the easiest and most effect measures you can take to creating more joy and contentment in your life. Time for yourself, although ideally would involve a good book, a sunny spot and endless hours to while away, can take many forms.

If you lead an exceptionally busy lifestyle try allowing a little me time when and wherever you can. Try dedicating the first few minutes in the morning before you get out of bed to considering yourself, think about what you’d like to achieve today, even if it is something small. Or use this time to reflect on all the good things in your life already and allow yourself some positive thoughts on who you are and how you have a positive influence on those around you. Alternatively try to gain some me time whenever you are alone, in the shower, in the car/bus/train on your way to work, waiting in line, or in the few minutes before you drop off to sleep at night.

Of course this should not be a substitute for quality me time (aforementioned good book and sunshine) but if we allow ourselves, even just a moment, each day to reflect positively on our life and ourselves we create a collective sense of peace, contentment and joy.

I hope these ideas are a little piece of inspiration for some of you. Of course there are many more ways our lives are filled with wondrous opportunities for peace, contentment, joy and happiness. Be open to experiences in life and be ready to embrace each and every opportunity for a happy and fulfilling life!