5 Lessons from Positive Experiences
When we talk about all experiences bringing you something, one might think that we're only referring to negative experiences, but let's think about what we get from the positive...!
All positive experiences bring us 5 key things, in *addition* to what each of them may individually bring to you. For example, all positive
experiences bring you something that is unique to that moment.
Holding your baby for the first time, graduating from an educational institution, or even just a day at the beach -- each of these things are positive and bring a unique flavor to our lives. So that unique experience -- that moment -- is special in and of itself.
However, positive experiences in general also give us so much more.
Let's reflect.
1. Gratitude
How often do you take a moment to simply *be* in the moment and have gratitude for a unique, wonderful, beautiful experience? Whether it be a wonderful meal, which reminds you that you can smell and taste, and that you have enough food to eat, or reading a good book, which reminds you that you can read and think and imagine and have the access to books. Every moment that is good reminds us of the bigger picture of our lives, and can be a reason to be grateful for all we have.
2. Appreciation
In addition to the moment itself, and giving a sense of gratitude for everything in your life, we can also appreciate the specific people, things or places that came together to create that moment for us. For example, perhaps your lover cooked that amazing meal for you, and you can offer appreciation to him or her for that sweet gesture. Or perhaps the music playing that moves you was written by a talented group of artists. Likewise, you can feel appreciation not only for your ability to experience what they have to offer, but also for the particular humans on the planet that brought that experience to you!
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 3. A Sense of Possibility
When we are up, and have a positive experience, we know that more are
possible. By having a good time, we know that it can happen again.
When we are in a good space, we have optimism that things can be good, we dream bigger and have hope. This ability to experience one good thing keeps us holding on for more of the same. And as we learn what pleases us, we can create more of that in our lives. As you find out you love jazz, or Indian food, or hiking, or volunteering, you are able to think to yourself, "Wow! How much else is out there that can bring me joy?"
4. Perspective
Often when we're in a good space, it allows us to see how much better off we truly are than many others in the world. If you are able to read, have access to a computer, and live where there is running water, we're doing so much better than millions of people in the world. Sometimes we lose that perspective. However, when we're happy, we can remind ourselves of the blessings we have and this is more than just gratitude or appreciation. Rather, we can see things with a broader, bigger and fuller perspective.
5. A Wonderful Memory -- Positive Experiences Create More Joy!
Pure bliss, joy, and peace. When you have a positive experience, you carry that moment with you and you can call it up and relive it at ANY time you want to. Since we all have a memory bank full of all sorts of memories, why not call on the good ones to bring us back more fully and more often to that place of happiness and contentment? It's those small moments of excitement, pleasure, interest, and so on that create the fabric of our lives.
So as you move through your life and have wonderful moments of being YOU, make sure you keep the lessons from those happy, shining moments, as well as the lessons from the darker ones. ALL experiences bring you something... |
