This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever recommend products that I have personally used and loved. Thank you for your support!
Everyone has their own daily stresses to deal with, and it can be easy to forget to take time to enjoy the little things in life. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world or the situations you are in; appreciating the simple things can help bring a sense of lightness and joy to your day. This article will explore ways to find and appreciate simple pleasures in life.
Read also: 33 Affirmations For Gratitude
Read also: 11 Microshifts That Will Improve Your Life In The Longrun
The Benefits Of Practicing Gratitude
Life is full of small moments of joy that we often overlook or take for granted. A warm cup of coffee in the morning, a hug from a loved one, a beautiful sunset, a good book, a laugh with a friend. These are some of the simple pleasures in life that can make us happy and fulfilled.
But how can we appreciate these moments more deeply and regularly? The answer is gratitude.
Gratitude is the feeling of thankfulness for what we have and experience. It is a powerful way to enhance our well-being and happiness by shifting our attention from what we lack to what we have.
For example, gratitude can help us cope with stress and challenges by focusing on the positive aspects of our lives and the support we receive from others. It can strengthen our relationships by expressing gratitude to the people who care for us and showing them that we value their presence and actions. Appreciation can also enhance our self-esteem by recognizing our strengths and achievements and being grateful for our opportunities and resources.
By practicing gratitude, we can become more optimistic, hopeful, and satisfied with our lives.
Challenges Of Practising Gratitude
Gratitude is not always easy to practice, especially when we face difficulties or hardships in our lives.
Sometimes, we may feel angry, sad, frustrated, or hopeless, and we may not be able to see anything good or positive in our situations. We may also compare ourselves to others who seem to have more or better things than us, and we may feel envious or resentful.
These negative emotions can prevent us from feeling grateful and appreciating what we have.
To overcome these challenges, we need to be mindful of our thoughts and feelings and try to shift our perspective from what we lack to what we have. We need to be compassionate towards ourselves and others and acknowledge that everyone has their own struggles and joys.
We can practice gratitude by writing down or saying out loud what we are grateful for every day or by expressing our gratitude to someone who has helped us or made us happy.
Practicing gratitude can help us overcome challenges and enjoy the benefits of this positive attitude.
Examples Of Simple Pleasures In Life
1. Watching a beautiful sunrise/sunset
2. Seeing rainbows and thunderstorms
3. The feeling of a cool pillow on your face
4. The feeling of your sun-warmed towel after getting out of the cold water
5. Fingers carding through your hair and scratching your scalp
6. Goosebumps breaking out at the lightest of touches
7. The feeling of soft/silky clothes against your skin
8. The smoothness of freshly shaved skin
9. Those first three bites of the meal you’ve been craving
10. The feeling of dipping your head in cool water on a blisteringly hot summer day
11. The feeling of slipping back into still-warm bedsheets in the winter
12. Hearing an old feel-good song for the first time in a long time
13. Discovering a new song that hits you just right
14. Reading a book that you can’t put down
15. The smell of wet grass after the rain
16. Taking a walk through nature
17. Spotting a deer/squirrel/fox/hedgehog
18. Laughing so much that tears spring to your eyes
19. Watching your flowers bloom
20. Discovering a delicious-smelling body wash/perfume
21. Watching a movie that makes you feel like a new person afterward
22. Your pet expressing that it loves you
23. Getting an unexpected compliment
24. Making someone visibly happy with a sincere compliment
25. Unexpectedly finding some money in your bag
26. Cuddling on a comfy couch
27. Having an unexpectedly great hair day
28. Feeling the sun on your skin on a spring day
29. Feeling the cool wind against your skin on a hot summer day
30. The first breath of seawater air during a vacation
31. Hearing the birds sing when you are already awake
32. Finding the perfect gift for someone
33. Being alone and enjoying your own company
34. Having a good conversation with someone
35. Being introduced to new and interesting things
36. Finishing a series you’ve been watching for way too long
37. Watching the new episode you have been looking forward to for ages
38. The excitement when the light dims in the cinema and the film starts
39. The taste of warm cinema popcorn
40. That one popcorn that’s extra sugary
41. Finding the perfect parking lot
42. Getting the package you have been waiting for
43. Being pleasantly surprised by the clothes you’ve ordered
44. Finding a new clothing store that just hits your style
45. The moment when something in your brain just clicks, and you suddenly understand what you’ve been trying to figure out
46. Finding clever hacks or gadgets that solve a problem you didn’t even realize you had
47. Finding books that are not only good but also aesthetically pleasing to look at
48. Remembering a password that you had forgotten
49. The first sip of coffee in the morning
50. The feeling of accomplishment after ticking a task off your to-do list
More Simple Pleasures In Life To Appreciate
51. Lighting a scented candle
52. Finding a new scent for your diffuser oil
53. Eating chocolate and fresh fruits at the same time
54. The warmth of laundry fresh out of the dryer
55. Watching a bath bomb dissolve in the bath
56. Hearing the right song at the right moment
57. Watching the flowers bloom and trees grow full in the spring
58. Seeing a shooting star on a cloudless summer night
59. Listening to an inspiring podcast
60. Having to hold in your giggles while you listen to a funny audiobook in public
61. Leaving work at the end of the day
62. People and public transportation being on time
63. Your pet acting extra cute
64. Waking up shortly before your alarm clock
65. The feeling of running as fast as you can
66. Sitting down after a long period of standing
67. Enjoying a scenic car ride
68. Watching an exciting sports match/race
69. Cheering/singing along with a crowd of like-minded people
70. Starting a new notebook/journal
71. Listening to ASMR
72. Watching aesthetic desk setup videos
73. Noticing how much you have improved
74. Having freshly cleaned up your room
75. Securing tickets to a concert/an event
76. Noticing how the sun rises earlier and earlier the closer summer approaches
77. Seeing the almost heavenly rays of the sun breaking through heavy clouds
78. Aesthetic stationery
79. Perfectly matching clothes
80. Long battery life and short charging times
81. Countless movies and series to choose from at any moment
82. Your skincare routine
83. Fairy lights/LED lights for every mood
84. Hearing children giggling and babies babbling
85. Watching the first butterflies in spring
86. Waking up and remembering your dream
87. Remembering a memory that makes you smile
88. The sound of beach waves
89. The sound of gentle rain
90. Hilarious memes and YouTube compilations
91. Going to bed early because you are excited for the next day
92. Taking off your makeup and/or restricting clothes after a long day
93. Catching up with a friend
94. Planning your next holiday
95. Donating money/your old things
96. Eating fresh foods and feeling energized
97. Loosening your muscled through indulgent stretching
98. Baking your favorite treats
99. Discovering a new and exciting restaurant
100. Dancing through your room without inhibitions
Conclusion: Taking time to recognize and appreciate simple pleasures in life can help bring lightness, joy, and happiness to our days. Practicing gratitude, finding joy in the ordinary, making room for play, and doing something different are all ways to help us foster a positive outlook on life and enjoy the small moments.
Find joy in the simple pleasures in life today and share the positive experiences you have with your friends and family.
Until next time Felicity Seeker!
