Five Things

One of those interesting brain science factoids that has been making the rounds lately is how our brains are wired to focus more on negative things or perceived dangers than on positive, happy things. Simply for survival, our brains understand that danger must be analyzed and replayed to be avoided - or so evolutionary science says.

Lost in the shuffle as a result, are our daily moments of joy, moments of wonder, moments of happiness, that we experience and quickly let go. As a result, they never really imprint in our minds the way the negative things do. Replaying them or analyzing them does not serve the evolutionary need. With that in mind, I started a practice I heard about a few years ago.

Before I go to sleep, I make myself think of five things that brought me wonder, joy or happiness during the day. I am mortified to say that many nights, I lie there completely blank trying to remember if there had been anything good or happy of note that day. And then I’ll mentally turn to my calendar. What did I do today again? Today - before it was lost in a haze of bedtime exhaustion and mulling over tomorrow? Oh yeah, oh my gosh, coffee with my old friend - how could I have forgotten? The next part of the practice is to hold that thought for a moment – let myself feel that joy again – force my brain to stay with it for a few moments. The laughter, the flow of good feelings, the joy of the greeting and parting hugs…until I feel it all again…happiness.

…and, oh yeah - the morning light in the yard, when I took the dog out – the way the mist created perfect sunlit rays that fell through the trees into my yard… wonder.

…and oh my gosh – that photo I found of the kids when they were tiny…Suddenly the good memories of the day come tumbling back and I hold each of those feelings again for just a moment. To let them sink in. A little bit of joy. A little bit of wonder. A little bit of happiness.

…and then, I find that I roll over into a much easier and peaceful sleep that I might have just five minutes before.

Thank you, God for every happy moment that you bring us during the day. Help us learn to see them, hold them, and give thanks for them all. Amen

Diana is a founding member of Peace Church, and has way too many photos on her phone…another place she finds she captured something special in her day.