Fall In Love With Your Life This February
Whether you're looking forward to spending Valentine's day with a loved one or eschew the whole thing, with the days beginning to lengthen and glimpses of spring appearing, there could be no better time to learn to fall in love with your life and bring a sprinkle of magic to the everyday.
Big social media themes over the last few years have revolved around embodying 'main character energy' and romanticising life. Whilst some may regard this as indulgent and self-absorbed, recognising and being grateful for what we have, no matter how small, can pay dividends - and you don't have to be posting about it on your social media to benefit from it.
Get started by practicing self love
Self love, gratitude and doing things that bring you joy are key to falling in love with your life and how you think about yourself, your life and close relationships. Instead of being critical, learning to treat ourselves with kindness can be transformative.
Humans aren't perfect and we all mess up sometimes, from feeling like we've put our foot in it by saying something daft or letting something slip, to forgetting to do something important at work. It's best not to get too fixated on our failings though.
Overcoming negative bias
Treating ourselves with compassion can do wonders for our wellbeing, and whilst learning from our mistakes is ultimately a good thing, endlessly replaying those events and beating ourselves up only serves to focus our attention on the negatives, which does nothing but make us feel bad.
When we focus our attention on the negatives, we can start to develop a skewed perspective which can cloud our judgement. In psychology, this is known as negative bias, pertaining to the brain's proclivity towards responding more intensely to negative stimuli.
Negative bias can make bad things seem to outweigh the good things in our lives, but this is often purely down to perception and if we practiced paying more attention to all of the positive things we experience, it could transform our perspective on life.
Noticing the little things
When we think about the media and the messages we're bombarded with each day, whether on the radio during our daily commute or in our social media feeds, most of what we're exposed to is negative if not downright depressing.
Often negative content will elicit a stronger response in individuals, driving engagement. Remember how much our brains like to latch on to negatives? According to research citied by the Universe of Cambridge, there could even be more negative emotive content on social media, so it stands to reason that limiting our exposure to such content could easily help us perceive fewer negative feelings.
Connect with nature
Spending time outdoors and reconnecting with nature can be a powerful way to feel more grounded and present in your life.
Whether it's a walk in the park, tending to a garden, or simply pausing to admire a beautiful sunset, immersing yourself in the natural world has been shown to reduce stress and boost your mood.
Wrap up warm and get outside on your lunchbreak, drink your early morning brew in the garden or schedule in a weekend country park visit.
Taking time to appreciate the changing seasons or the birdsong outside your window – this contact with nature can remind us how much beauty surrounds us and how much simplicity and joy there is to be found in something as simple was watching a butterfly.
Cultivate meaningful connections
Building and nurturing relationships with others is a vital aspect of a fulfilling life. Not only can friends bring a new perspective, but they can ensure we don't spend too much time in our own heads.
Reaching out to a friend, sharing a heartfelt conversation, or spending quality time with loved ones can deepen your sense of connection and belonging, enhancing gratitude. If you're feeling isolated, consider joining a club or community group centred around an interest or hobby – it can be a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and expand your social circle.
Create something just for the joy of it
Don't fall into the trap of believing that play, creativity or joy are things to be left behind as we age! Expressing yourself creatively is an excellent way to bring more joy and playfulness into your life.
Whether it's writing, painting, baking, or trying your hand at something entirely new, doing something just for fun and without the pressure of perfection or achieving a specific goal, can help you feel more engaged and alive.
From a colouring book or a ceramics class, to planting a seed and watching it grow, let go of the need to be productive and find simple joy in the process!
Embrace the art of slowing down
In a world that often feels go, go, go, making a conscious effort to slow down can be revolutionary. Savour your morning coffee, take time to read a book, or practise mindfulness by simply sitting quietly and observing your surroundings.
Get into the art of journaling by carving out just 10 minutes before you settle down to sleep at night, take a few minutes each day to think of 3 things you're grateful for, or simply gaze out of the window and allow yourself to zone out for a bit.
By slowing down, you'll be able to appreciate the small moments that might otherwise pass you by, helping you feel more present and in love with your life.
Falling in love with your life means filling your life with what's meaningful to you. What makes us happy can look different for each of us, so it's all about finding the little things that mean something to you and prioritising your needs whenever you can.
We've only got one life, so we might as well love it!
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