Mindfulness every day can help us to find amazement in the ordinary happenings of daily life.
The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things. –Henry Ward Beecher
When we slow down and make time to be fully present in the moment, we have access to happiness and a sense of wonder and awe simply by becoming willing to see the extraordinary in the ordinary. For me it’s easiest to do this in nature. As I look outside my window, there is a Carolina anole, a little green lizard-like creature, on the porch rail pausing to puff up his throat, which extends into a big, red ball. A house sparrow is flying to the feeder and returns with a sunflower seed for her chicks. She gives the first few to the one next to her and then flies back over and over to the same spot, feeding the same chick, who is notably larger than the other one. The smaller chick squawks louder each time, which seems to be completely ineffective. Finally, the hungry chick ducks his head and scoots under the wing of its sibling, knocking him out of the way and positioning himself to receive the next seed. The mother returns to the same spot, and the smaller chick gets the seed.
What bits of extraordinary can you find in the ordinary in your world today by practicing mindfulness every day?
Jen Johnson is a mindfulness coach, teacher, and therapist teaching meditation for healing, creativity, and resilience. Learn more about mindfulness coaching with Jen.