Finding Joy in the Ordinary

Last Updated on December 15, 2022 by Kayla

It’s easy to get lost in our day-to-day lives. Most times, we succumb to surviving on auto-pilot, and we miss precious opportunities of finding joy in the ordinary.

One of my favorite ways to instill awareness and cultivate gratitude is slowing down and not being in a hurry.

Don’t be in a hurry

Not being in a hurry. It sounds simple enough, yet using this as a compass for all things – big and small – has been a game-changer for me.

Taking your time allows space to enjoy the little things and alleviates self-induced stress and anxiety. Imagine embracing a few extra minutes in the car to enjoy a podcast rather than letting road rage take over after hitting a string of red lights. Nice, right?!

When it comes to the bigger stuff, though, like making healthy lifestyle changes or finally starting that side business, patience wears thinner – faster. Think about losing weight, creating financial security, or building your dream home – we want instant gratification – NOW.

Don't be in a hurry

Enjoy the journey

Whether the voyage is short, like your morning commute to work, or one of the more extended variety like dropping three pants sizes, enjoy the journey. Just as one meal won’t get us to goal weight, one dollar won’t push us to the cusp of retirement, or one e-mail won’t transcend our side-hustle, it’s what we do consistently that yields results.

You may not have all the answers now, and there is no doubt there will be setbacks along the way. Sit back, buckle up, and be grateful in the HERE and NOW. Don’t wait to be happy until you reach your goal weight or become of age to withdraw from your retirement account without penalty.

Guess what? Achieving these things will NOT make you happy. Losing weight doesn’t guarantee a life free of troubles, just as moving into your dream house doesn’t promise a sense of “home.” It’s what’s on the inside or within the four walls that truly counts.

You’ve got to find a reason to be grateful in the HERE and NOW. So, sit back, buckle up, and buy those cute jeans so that you can feel like your best self now.

Enjoy. The. Journey.

Words from the Wise

“You won’t be happy at the destination if you can’t be happy on the journey.” – Unknown

Finding joy in the ordinary is vital to long-term motivation. When it comes to improving our lives for the better, there seems to be a misconception that suffering equals results and we can’t be happy until we’ve reached our goal(s). Why is that?!

Depending on your objectives, the destination might be minutes, hours, days, or weeks away. Many even years. Why wait to be happy, thankful, and proud? Why wait to be happy, thankful, and proud? Seek ways to find joy in the ordinary, everyday things we take for granted.

It can be as simple as slowing down enough to notice how a few deep breaths can change your frame of mind. Maybe it’s putting down your fork between bites so you can enjoy the texture and taste of the food that’s nourishing your body—or looking out the window to enjoy the company and beauty of nature.

Finding joy in the ordinary

However you choose to see the beauty and find joy in the ordinary, enjoy the journey. Don’t just muster through with blinders on until you reach the finish line. You’ll miss so many of the lessons along the way. Not to mention, the reward of reaching the destination will be short-lived.

When the end-point isn’t as glorious as you imagined, the sacrifices you made to reach the said destination are magnified. And so, old habits creep back in. The carbs you swore off for months on end have returned as comfort or a coping mechanism for this time of utter disappointment. The walking routine you established is thrown out at the first inkling that “it’s not worth it.”

So how do we avoid this all-or-nothing thinking?

The answer

Rather than resorting back and forth between over-restrictive and overindulgent behaviors, do not look at any one goal as an end-point. View the journey as a way to learn, grow, and stretch your comfort zone.

The solution to prevent this yo-yo effect is simple:

Don’t be in a hurry.

Embrace the journey.

Be proud in the here and now.

Yours truly,

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