In our day-to-day lives, the tendency is to notice the negative. We get caught up in the things that go wrong and feel like we’re living under our own private rain cloud. The concern is we don’t notice the positive, we tend to adapt and absorb the good things and people in our lives, taking them for granted. The result is, we often overlook everyday beauty and goodness–a kind gesture from a friend, or the warmth of our partner on a chilly morning. In the process, we miss opportunities for happiness and connection.
Three Good Things
At the end of each day try to recall three positive things that happened in that day. Take the time to notice them and thank God. Don’t just look for the big things, acknowledge the small things, like the giggle of your child, the beauty of a sunrise or sunset. Train yourself to notice beauty and goodness, you will be surprised at what God brings into your life daily, so often we are to worried, stressed and anxious to notice. End your day counting the blessings not dwelling in the anxiety and worry of the negative.
This practice guards against tendency to only notice the negative. By remembering and listing three positive things that have happened in your day–and maybe even considering what caused them–you tune into the sources of goodness in your life. It’s a habit that can change the emotional tone of your life, replacing feelings of disappointment or entitlement with those of gratitude–which may be why this practice is associated with significant increases in happiness.
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