Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Cultivating Gratitude: Finding Everyday Moments of Joy
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
Welcome back, friend. I'm Julia Cartwright, and I'm so glad you're here with me today. You know, mid-January can feel a little heavy, doesn't it? The holiday glow has settled, reality's knocking on the door, and maybe you're wondering if that burst of hope you felt on New Year's Day is already fading. That's exactly why we're here together. Today, we're going to practice gratitude not as some performative checklist, but as a real, lived experience that can genuinely shift how you move through your day.
Let's start by getting comfortable wherever you are. You don't need to sit cross-legged on a mountaintop. A chair, a couch, your bed, the kitchen table—anywhere works. Just make sure your spine has a little dignity. Shoulders relaxed. Feet on the ground if you can. Close your eyes gently, or soften your gaze downward. There we go.
Now, let's breathe together. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, and as you exhale, imagine releasing any tightness you've been carrying. Tight shoulders, clenched jaw, worried thoughts—they all get to leave with your breath. One more time. In for four, and out for five or six, nice and slow. Beautiful.
Here's what we're going to do together. I want you to think about three small things from your life today or this week. Not earth-shattering. Not world-changing. We're talking about the kind of moments that sneak by when we're not paying attention. Maybe it's that first sip of warm coffee this morning, the way it tasted on your tongue. Maybe it's a text from someone who made you laugh. The afternoon light hitting your wall just right. A song that came on while you were doing dishes.
Bring one of these moments into your mind right now. Don't analyze it. Just sit with it. Notice where you feel it in your body. Is there warmth in your chest? A softness around your eyes? That sensation is gratitude. That's the real thing. Not forced positivity. Just noticing that something small, something seemingly ordinary, actually nourished you.
Now, here's my favorite part. Take that feeling and imagine it's like a small light you're carrying in your hands. It's warm. It's real. And throughout your day, whenever you feel rushed or frustrated, you can come back to it. You can let it remind you that even on tough days, small goodnesses are still happening.
Thank you for spending this time with me. Your presence here, your commitment to noticing what's good in your life, it matters more than you know. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for another Daily Mindfulness Reflection for Happiness. Please subscribe so you never miss a practice. You deserve this. Take care of yourself.
For great deals today, check out https://amzn.to/47ZqpWT
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
Let's start by getting comfortable wherever you are. You don't need to sit cross-legged on a mountaintop. A chair, a couch, your bed, the kitchen table—anywhere works. Just make sure your spine has a little dignity. Shoulders relaxed. Feet on the ground if you can. Close your eyes gently, or soften your gaze downward. There we go.
Now, let's breathe together. Inhale through your nose for a count of four, and as you exhale, imagine releasing any tightness you've been carrying. Tight shoulders, clenched jaw, worried thoughts—they all get to leave with your breath. One more time. In for four, and out for five or six, nice and slow. Beautiful.
Here's what we're going to do together. I want you to think about three small things from your life today or this week. Not earth-shattering. Not world-changing. We're talking about the kind of moments that sneak by when we're not paying attention. Maybe it's that first sip of warm coffee this morning, the way it tasted on your tongue. Maybe it's a text from someone who made you laugh. The afternoon light hitting your wall just right. A song that came on while you were doing dishes.
Bring one of these moments into your mind right now. Don't analyze it. Just sit with it. Notice where you feel it in your body. Is there warmth in your chest? A softness around your eyes? That sensation is gratitude. That's the real thing. Not forced positivity. Just noticing that something small, something seemingly ordinary, actually nourished you.
Now, here's my favorite part. Take that feeling and imagine it's like a small light you're carrying in your hands. It's warm. It's real. And throughout your day, whenever you feel rushed or frustrated, you can come back to it. You can let it remind you that even on tough days, small goodnesses are still happening.
Thank you for spending this time with me. Your presence here, your commitment to noticing what's good in your life, it matters more than you know. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for another Daily Mindfulness Reflection for Happiness. Please subscribe so you never miss a practice. You deserve this. Take care of yourself.
For great deals today, check out https://amzn.to/47ZqpWT
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI