Do you have any small, daily habits that you really enjoy? For example, many people enjoy having a cup of coffee or tea in the morning. Perhaps you enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate after dinner each day. Or you enjoy reading in bed before you turn off the light. Many of us have small, enjoyable things we do every day, but they often become routine, and we forget to really tune in and enjoy them, which diminishes some of their positive benefits.
When you are grieving, we encourage you to try being more mindful when you engage in these daily habits! Before doing one of these small things, take a deep breath and say to yourself how you are thankful that you get to do this. Then, put away other distractions and become fully aware of what you are doing. Actively think about your five senses — what can you see, touch, taste, smell, and hear? Pay full attention to the positive sensations that you feel and practice gratitude for these small pleasures.
When we are in grief, our negative thoughts and feelings can feel incredibly overwhelming and all-consuming, and it can be easy to dismiss the small positive experiences that we have in our lives. This is why tuning into these small positive experiences can be just what we need to find a little bit of peace.
— By Laura Holmes