You are better off than you know.
Don’t trust me? Well, let’s do an inventory of your day.
You put your feet (left first, right next) on the soft floor-carpet in the morning. (In short, you woke up.) You got to have coffee or tea–delicious, organic even. You ate some butter and toast. You even enjoyed a hot water shower. Your partner prepared you a Saturday brunch.
You re-read that passage from your favourite book. It dazzled you yet again. You had a chance to walk to the library and were welcomed to have a go at their wonderful collection. You even sat down and began that long-suppressed book today! Once you decided to start, the “flow” happened and ideas followed.
But wait. I hear you mumble.
“Oh no, those are just mundane things. I haven’t won than book contract, have I? Neither am I the next Amanda Hocking. So what’s the point?“
There IS a point. And you probably won’t make it “big” (define it as whatever it is for you) if you have taken that thinking-track down, anyway. Don’t think of “little things” as trivial. Why? Because these every day things are not trivial–they are taken for granted, if anything.
Many people didn’t get to experience what you did, today. Some didn’t wake up, some couldn’t walk down the street. Some couldn’t see the summer sky, others couldn’t get their words down on paper. And definitely not all had the brilliant ideas you did.
So let’s be honest to admit we did better than many and grateful for it all, then, shall we?
So repeat after me three times: I am one heck of a lucky duck. I sure am!
A Small Exercise to Shift Your Spirits:
This exercise is pretty simple, but then most things in life are. It’s our inherent need to make things complicated in order to feel a sense of achievement once we “grasp” them or excel at them. Don’t you think?
- Grab your favourite pen and notepad
- Write down Five Great Things That Happened to Me Today at the day’s end
- Update this list EVERY DAY, Include experiences like “I had a great lunch out with my colleagues” or “I still have a roof over my head” or “My spouse brought me flowers”.
- Write in decorative writing or blocked letters–whatever you prefer–and stick ‘em up every where
- Lastly, remember to be grateful. Thank them to multiply them.
Practise the steps every day and soon you will find what a magical life you are leading. You will trust the uniqueness of being you. You will know you are far better off that you actually know.
Being a writer can be pretty stressful at times. A lot goes in tending to this craft that we love. Remembering and showing gratitude for the little acts of kindness life gently plants in our path makes a writerly life much easy.
You can be happy and carefree as a summer breeze. So why not be?
What about you? Which techniques do you use to remind yourself? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
Photo by PTGreg at PhotoRee.com
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Tags: amanda hocking, creative inspiration, creativity, everyday happiness, gratitude, new writer, Writing
I need to make a list like that. Every once in a while when I’m feeling down about writing, I’ll make sure to write a few things I’ve been successful with, or list down all the new things I’ve learned. It’s so easy to take it for granted. It’s important to remember the good points, and celebrate progress.
There sure are several reasons to celebrate at any point in time of our lives. It makes a huge difference, and am glad you appreciate it.
-BrownEyed
Great blog post!
I think that many more people need to stop and be grateful for what they do have. You have sent a great message. Thank you for sharing this!
You’re welcome Isabella. This share is my pleasure.
thanks for stopping by!
-BrownEyed
“I am one heck of a lucky duck. I am.” x3
Every day, I think of at least 3 things that I am grateful for (they are rarely tangible things).
You are right, consciously remembering the positive and being grateful leads to increased happiness. There’s one side effect I don’t mind experiencing
Good for you, Janna! Now don’t forget to repeat it every time you feel dragged down by life’s “unjust” ways.
-BrownEyed
Very well said!
Thank you Nicole. I just wish I can get this message across as much as possible.
-BrownEyed
Gratitude and happiness goes hand in hand. If you’re interested, here are some of the techniques I use:
http://nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/25-simple-ways-to-enjoy-the-journey-2/
Thanks, Brown Eyed. Scatter Joy!
I just read that post, Nancy. Thank you for sharing it and in your words, scattering joy!
-BrownEyed
Here’s to being as carefree as the summer breeze.
I adored this – I hope you don’t mind if I forward it to my team here at work
Thanks Emily!
Of course, not. Please pass on.
I’d really love to hear about the encounter where your professor took you in the corner and said the glorious words. You know what I mean, right?
-Pooja
Lovely.
Today I am so lucky because I got to take a loooong walk in the sunshine and smile at people and pet dogs and now I get to sit down and drink some tea. I am lucky indeed. 
Thanks for sharing.
Wow, Currie Rose that’s how you spread the magic! Thank YOU for reciting all the lovely things you did; sure brightens up the blog-o-sphere quite a bit.
Thanks for dropping in.
-Pooja
Wonderful post! And your timing couldn’t be better. I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude and what I’m grateful for over the past while, and plan on writing about it in my next blog entry. Happy International Women’s day, and here’s to all the amazing women doing incredible things all over the world. That’s something to be grateful for.
Thank you Kristen, and a happy Women’s Day to you also.
I am glad I got your timing just right–it’s always a warm fuzzy feeling when my words touch someone this way.
-Pooja
What a wonderful and delightful reminder that we are already better off than we think we are.
Gratefulness is something I’ve done in the past, and once you start the habit of being grateful, the things you are grateful for sort of multiply themselves–like rabbits!
Ah. . . the multiplication! How true Ollin.
Gratitude is one of the vibrating thoughts at highest frequency and it helps one attract similar high frequency vibes form others. Like attracts like.
-Pooja
Great post. It is all too easy to get caught up lamenting about all the things that are not going according to plan. Happiness is but one of the six emotions that we have and is the only one that is positive. No wonder we have to work harder to find it. Gratitude is one means by which we can achieve the emotion of happiness.
One of the things I do as a way to be grateful is to allocate a section of my day to do one thing for someone either within my house or out that is not the expected norm. Extending yourself beyond your own singular needs makes you more grateful for those around you that have impacted your life.
“Happiness is but one of the six emotions that we have and is the only one that is positive.”
That really stuck with me. Thanks for sharing it.
-Pooja
A great post. It’s so important to remind people of this. Acceptance of our lot and gratitude for what we have is the key to contentment.
Given your interest in spirituality, I think you’d like my YA fantasy Lethal Inheritance. I’ll let you know when it comes out.
Thank you Tahlia. Sure, just give a holler this way when it’s out!
~Pooja
Great post! I’d love to be as carefree as a summer breeze…I’m working on it
Good on you! It’s a lovely feeling, isn’t it?
~Pooja