In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to stop and enjoy the moments that make us truly happy. Enjoyment is an art that we can all learn. Whether you’re a busy professional, a busy parent, or just someone looking for more joy, there are different ways to enjoy life. In this article, we’ll explore four types of enjoyment and how you can apply them to your daily life. Read on!
Cherish
First, we have cherish, which is about appreciating and enjoying beautiful memories. Imagine you’re leafing through a vacation photo album, reminiscing. You’re thinking about the sound of the waves, the feeling of the sun on your skin, and the activities you did. That’s cherishing: reliving pleasant moments. Research shows that cherishing is good for our mood and can reduce our stress. Cherishing creates a sense of contentment and happiness. But how can you take more time to reflect on beautiful memories?
- Create a memory box or scrapbook. Make sure it contains photos, notes or other artifacts that bring you back to pleasant moments.
- Plan an evening with friends or family to think back to beautiful memories. Ask everyone to bring an artifact that evokes a memory.
Gratitude
A second, powerful way to enjoy more is gratitude. Being grateful is about recognizing and appreciating the good things in your life, no matter how small. You are grateful for what you have, such as good health, your friends or a nice day. Research has shown that when people regularly express gratitude, they feel happier and more fulfilled. Gratitude ensures that you pay more attention to the positive things in life, which contributes to a positive mindset and reduces stress. What can you do?
- Try to reflect on three nice things every day, no matter how small. You can write them down at the end of your day, but you can also discuss them with someone around you.
Wonder
Then we have wonder, where you are surprised and amazed by the world around you. You experience wonder, for example, when you see a beautiful sunset, or when you look at an impressive work of art. You often feel like you can’t take your eyes off it, it is so impressive. Science shows that wonder is good for broadening our perspective, because we learn to be open to new things and our creativity is stimulated. This broader perspective can strengthen the feeling of connection with others, which is an important predictor of mental health. How can you ensure that you are more amazed?
- Actively look for moments of wonder and inspiration. This looks different for everyone. Think for example of going to a museum, going into nature or looking at the stars.
Mindfulness
A final method of enjoyment is mindfulness. This is about being consciously present in the moment and focusing your attention on what you are doing. Mindfulness helps you to observe your thoughts and feelings without judgement, which allows you to experience more peace and clarity. Science shows us that living mindfully… What can you do to become more mindful?
- Within The Mental Move we also offer a Self-Help Module on Mindfulness, take a look there too!
- Take five minutes out of your busy day. Sit comfortably, close your eyes and breathe in and out deeply. Focus your attention on how your breath flows through your body. After five minutes, open your eyes again and notice how you feel. Try to experience the difference.
Enjoying life more
By applying these four ways of enjoying, you can find more joy and contentment in your daily life. Whether you choose to cherish beautiful memories, express gratitude, experience wonder, or practice mindfulness, each of these approaches can help you to live more consciously and happily. Take the time to discover which method suits you best and make it a habit to regularly reflect on the beautiful moments in your life. This way you can enjoy a little more every day.
