Let’s Discuss

This is such a powerful question. Let me explain why:

• Finding positive aspects to each day amplifies positive mental strategies. Heck, it is a strategy!
• It creates internal gratitude, whether or not it is written down.
• It promotes forward-thinking as you move through the day. For example: This (moment) is hard, but I can do (everyday happiness task) later!
• It builds on your quality of life!

My own five things include:

1. Completing my daily gratitude for my 2025 Gratitude Jar challenge.
2. Publishing my response to the WordPress writing prompt every morning.
3. My Daily Mindfulness checklist.
4. Adhering to a work routine throughout the day and setting aside worries that do not apply.
5. Spending a few moments over dinner with my life partner.

I want to elaborate on each as well. I just wanted to clarify each one first. My list of five seems simple enough, but it offers amazing rewards.

Daily Gratitude

I find the negativity demons stay at bay if I am grateful. I have spent more time living in a negative mindset than not. This year is my 40th year living. My actual time using gratitude is equal to a salt grain after a single tipping of the shaker.

Although I still fight adversity in life, it no longer hinders me. I am progressive rather than looking back.

Sharing it publicly has even more benefits.

WordPress Writing Prompts

My personality naturally gravitates toward reflection. I have lived the writers life since I was in elementary school.

I was in 4th and 5th grades, stealing my mom’s quarters to buy notebooks and pencils.

I also wrote a book around that time. I found the publisher’s mailing address inside a book and tried to mail it. My mom kept it when I asked for a stamp, and I found it in her things once she passed.

In 4th grade, I was bored and didn’t like age-appropriate books. I read things like:

• Black Beauty;
• War and Peace; and
• Pride and Prejudice.

Even when I didn’t understand a word, I would comprehend the meaning through the sentence’s intention.

I would stay up all night to finish a novel, then tell my mom I felt sick in the morning. That was how I would sneak in sleep because I became obsessed with the story.

To summarize, the daily writing prompt allows me to find something positive or empowering in my life. It allows me to think and find gratitude. I think of it as starting my day off on the right foot!

Daily Mindfulness

I keep two checklists for this purpose alone. First, I start my day by going over it. I have some that I check off first thing in the morning. Some are completed as the day progresses. These are priority mindfulness techniques that I use to make sure I have the right mindset from the start. By the end of the day, I usually have all boxes checked.

The second list involves coping techniques. I check off which techniques I used throughout the day to help me balance my emotions and stress level. These are simple, often listing things like:

• Listen to Music;
• Listen to Audiobooks;
• Crochet;
• Watch a Movie; and etc.

When I start a task, my mind becomes hyper-focused. This list reminds me to stop and smell the roses, you might say.

Schedules

I am exceptionally terrible with uncertainty. I need a scheduled life for my mental health. It triggers my general anxiety if I don’t keep one, and everything feels messy.

Let’s just call it OCD brain. Yeah, let’s leave it at that.

There is security and comfort in a regular routine that allows me to achieve all of my work.

(That is not today, by the way. Though I am okay with a little variance when my workload is lighter on a certain day. I saw one of my mom’s best friends and reminisced. It was well worth it.)

Quality Time

This is one of my love languages. Not his, though. I feel loved and supported when we spend those moments eating dinner all the same.

It matters to me!

Knowing that I am going to end a hard work day sitting with him matters. We discuss little things about the day, which enhances that feeling of security. It is exactly what I need.

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Credits
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Feature Photo by Madison Inouye on Pexels.com