Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff – Savor It
“Don’t sweat the small stuff” has been quoted by many. There are a lot of books written about this as well. It’s easy to get caught up in all the little things that can stress us out and then possibly ruin our day. I don’t believe it’s worth wasting a lot of energy on a lot of things that happen on a daily basis that we don’t like or really have any control over. Sure, we could get upset over the fact that someone else took the last good parking spot, or that the grocery store is out of our favorite brand of cereal. Or we can choose to not make a big deal out of it and use that small, fairly insignificant stuff to practice seeing the positive side of things. Having to park further away means we get to exercise a little and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine for a couple of minutes. Not being able to find our favorite cereal, means we get a chance to try something new that we may like even better. Do you see the difference in thinking there? Goes back to the article where I wrote about seeing the world as WE are not as it is.
There are often two sides to every situation and as human beings we have a choice in how we look at it. Remember, we see the world as we are and not as it is. Make it a goal to look on the bright side and watch your happiness and contentment go up. Then take it a step further and start to really pay attention to all the good things around you. It may sound corny but “stop and smell the roses” really does have a lot of meaning.
This is really true. There’s a lot of value in noticing all the positive things around you. If you take the time to notice them, there are many tiny little things around you that will put a smile on your face. Make it a habit to spend some of your relaxing time this week to savor the small stuff. Notice how your cup of coffee smells, how it warms your hands on a cool morning, and how it tastes. Pay attention to the beauty outside your window and notice how watching a little butterfly can make you smile. Appreciate the hug your friend gives you. In other words, savor all the small stuff that makes you happy. It may not be much, but it all adds up to contributing to a happier life. You just have to take the time to notice it.
Over the coming weeks, practice noticing and savoring the small things that are around you. Don’t let any of the bad stuff bring you down. Instead, make it a goal to find something positive about everything that happens to you throughout the day. Pay particular attention to all the little things that make you smile. Acknowledge them and it won’t take long before you feel this simple little exercise making a big difference in your overall outlook on life.
Pay attention to the small things that bring you joy and savor them. If you find yourself thinking something negative, picture a red stop sign and pause. Now, turn that negative thought into a positive one. If you do this regularly, it will change your world.