What Is Your Highlight of the Day?
These days, so many of us are too busy chasing goals that we never stop to celebrate the small, positive things that happen daily. And if you never stop, how can you expect yourself to notice these things?
I like to compare it to a game drive, also known as a safari in Africa. You are less likely to find the animals if you are only focused on the path ahead, instead of looking in the trees and between the bushes. They don’t tend to just appear in front of you that often; it takes a trained eye to find them.
The other day, I attended an amazing improv comedy show where the audience was asked what they do regularly to connect with their partner and reflect on their day. My hand shot up almost immediately—probably quicker than my mind had formulated the sentence. I was just so eager to share one of my favorite parts of each day.
A few years back, my partner and I decided to incorporate a daily gratitude practice into our bedtime routine. We call it our "highlight of the day." Every single night, we literally ask each other what our highlight of the day was. It has been a great way to hold each other accountable and to jointly focus on the positives of each day. On some days, the list is long; on others, it is not so long. Yet, ending each day on a shared positive note of gratitude has been one of our favorite ways to connect while celebrating—and better yet, acknowledging—the little and big things together.
While the highlight of the day works for us, there are many ways to incorporate gratitude practices into your daily life. Whether you decide to journal, meditate, have a gratitude jar, write a gratitude letter, or even go on a gratitude walk or jog, find what works for you.
Essentially, you are training your brain to not only look for but also focus on the positives, which will ultimately shape your outlook on life, impacting your overall well-being in a positive way.
Written by Naomi Wernecke, Personal and Professional Development Coach
Photo credit: Peggy Anke on Unsplash
