OH JOY!
Finding these Slices of Joy every day on our own and each others’ lives is one of our central inspirations at Sun and Sea Manor.
Surprise! “Access to joy” is a skill that can be learned, and its repeated use has been demonstrated to measurably increase happiness! Typically, our days are filled with small moments of pleasure, mostly overlooked by us. If we look for and notice these 1-3 second moments of delight, we literally train our brains to be happier, by building new neural networks and filling our “happiness reservoirs.”
Our daily goal at Sun and Sea is to find and create these moments of magic and share them. The fun is contagious, and the process is simple. We want to share it with you!
The Exercise: Look for thin “slices of joy”
Typically, our days are filled with small moments of pleasure, mostly overlooked by us.
If we look for and notice these 1-3 second moments of appreciation or delight, we literally train our brains to be happier, by building new neural networks and filling our
“happiness reservoirs.”
These “thin slices” might be the first bite of a favorite food, a shared smile or laugh over a funny story, seeing the face of a beloved, friend, child, grandchild, or co-worker, or the
comfort and sweetness of a gentle hug or touch! The more we acknowledge these fleeting moments, silently or openly, the more happiness-prone our minds and brains
become! All it takes is noticing! And to increase the amplitude, share it out loud with someone. There is curious psychological math at work. When we share something that we like or love, it gets
magnified!
Evidence of Efficacy: Chade-Meng Tan, an engineer from Google and author of Joy on Demand, illustrates the life-changing power of this simple mindfulness practice. He
says that he was an absolutely miserable young man. In spite of many successes, including financial independence at a young age, a prestigious engineering job at Google, two best-selling books, and a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize (really!) for his initiative, One Billion Acts of Peace; he was constantly tormented by self-doubt and crushing low self-esteem. The positives in his life seemed to actually increase his sense of alienation, as they were in such blatant contrast to his inner state. He shares a number of life-changing mindfulness practices in his book, each of which takes only seconds a day!
Try it! We think you’ll like it!
And then let us know; share the joy!
