When I took my Level 1 YogaFit training four years ago, the instructor wore a shirt that said "Gratitude" on it. I didn't understand at the time what gratitude had to do with yoga. Then, when I went to my next yoga training at a big conference, everyone was asked to wear their "Gratitude" shirts on the last day. Things started sinking in. In yoga practice, we focus so much on letting go of competition with ourselves, the last time we were on the mat, our neighbor. We let go of the past and don't attach to the future. By doing so, we stay grounded in the present and can accept whatever the body/mind has to offer on that day, during that practice without judging or expectation. Easier said than done. The mind likes to attach, judge, wander, draw conclusions, rehash the past and worry over the future. None of this brings happiness; all of this brings us out of the present.
The same thinking holds true off the yoga mat. We live in fast paced times, where too much technology and stimulation are coming at the brain. The brain is not equipped to handle this much overload. It becomes too stressful. Intentionally slowing down long enough to take a look around and appreciate what is happening is more important than ever. This can be simple, like finding rock star parking by the front door, or something bigger, like getting a compliment from a stranger, or maybe even a greater moment like realizing you made a difference in someone's day--any and all of this brings more joy to everyday living.
Our grandparents and parents may not have had as many distractions competing for their attention. They spent more time outside. They led more physically active lives. They walked more just because their lives were set up that way. They spent more time at the table for meals and talked to their family members. This allowed them to process experiences in "real time" not hyper-charged technology time. I know everything wasn't perfect like a Walton's episode. But, none of us will ever get back all the time wasted on technology that sucked us in and gave us nothing in return.
You may benefit from spending a few minutes every day identifying three good things. It doesn't matter how small or how big they are. Maybe you do this on the way home from work. In the car, no music or phone or distraction. Just think of three things that you are grateful for and notice how it made you feel at the time it happened--and how it makes you feel in the moment as you remember. That's it. Easy homework. You might start recalling more detail about the three good things--like who was there--what was going on around you. You might start looking for three good things every day in anticipation of answering these questions at the end of the day.
By getting in the habit of being grateful for what you have, you become more present in your day.
By being present in your day, you become less stressed.
By becoming less stressed, you save your good energy for where you really need it.
That is a zero-point recipe for good health.
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