In today’s podcast, we talk about delight – the practice of intentionally shifting our focus to noticing and reveling in life’s small (but wonderful!) things. It’s a practice that’s changing my life – and I suspect it can change yours too. Delight not only helps us recognize and appreciate the good, but rewires our brain, turning all of those little moments life is made of into enough.
Things To Remember From Today’s Podcast:
The dictionary says to delight is to have great pleasure. I say to delight is to change your life. Because it’s changing mine. (Honestly.)
Bekki’s definition: Delight is an INTENTIONAL shift in my focus to noticing the small things – the things we often OVERLOOK.
↑ For real though, Ferris is right. We MUST train our brains to stop and notice life’s details – making full use of our senses.
When we’re looking for good – it does NOT have to be extraordinary or magical. The “good stuff” is so very often little. And that shift in our brain that happens when we start to notice and savor the small things – taking active delight in them, causes those small things to be ENOUGH.
START a delight journal. Just start. And then after a few weeks, go back and connect your dots. What are the things that move you? What are the things that bring you joy?
Science suggests that developing a daily happiness practice can actually rewire your brain. By regularly dwelling in delight, we get better at noticing, remembering, and seeking sources of goodness in life. The lens through which we see the world becomes more optimistic and hopeful. (*Source: EMILIANA SIMON-THOMAS of https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/ross_gay, during her podcast interview with Ross Gay. Worth a listen! I’ve linked to his book below as well!)
Aim to be the quirky lady – the one holding her finger in the air saying, “Delight!” Aim to be the magpie – the collector of the happy bits – the JOY – the small things that make you and others smile.
You can become a new person by changing the way you THINK. (As in actually change your brain!!!) And a delight journal is an EASY (and pretty non-threatening) way to begin.
Things Mentioned On Today’s Podcast:
The Book of Delights by Ross Gay If you are interested in getting started with delight or beginning your own delight practice, I highly recommend reading this book.
Grab yourself a notebook and start a delight journal. (If it’s cute, you might be more likely to use it!)
The story of Mary and her pondering of the evening’s events can be found in Luke 2:1-20.
I mentioned that our default way of communication is often complaint. If that strikes a chord with you, I encourage you to go back and listen to Episode 24: Complaint.
Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
