Photo by Kristyn Lapp on Unsplash
In short: Life is a gift, and you don’t have to wait for a perfect moment to enjoy it. Joy, peace and happiness grow from small daily things: gratitude, time outdoors, attention to the present, kindness, the activities and people you love, and choices that fit your values. Start with one of them today.
You’re standing in the kitchen with your coffee, already running through the day in your head: the appointment, the shopping, the call you mustn’t forget. Outside, the light is lovely. You don’t see it. By evening the day is over, and you’d find it hard to say what was in it.
It’s so easy to get caught up in the busyness of everyday life and forget the beauty that surrounds us. There’s an old saying that invites us to sing, love and dance freely, and to live as if it were heaven on earth. You don’t have to wait for some later, better time to feel joy and peace. You can begin here, in the life you already have.
What does it mean to live as if it were heaven on earth?
It doesn’t mean that everything is perfect, or that nothing hurts. It means that you look for joy, peace and happiness in the present moment, with what’s there. Heaven, in that sense, isn’t a destination. It’s a state of mind, and a state of mind can be practised.
Here are ten ways to practise it. You don’t need all of them. Read them through, and notice which ones speak to you.
Ten ways to make the most of your life
1. Cultivate gratitude
This is the first step. Gratitude can be about something as simple as a warm cup of coffee, a good book or a kind word from a friend. Keep a notebook by your bed and write down three things you’re thankful for each day. When you look for what’s good, your mind gets into the habit of finding it, and the whole day feels different. If you’d like to go further, read how gratitude can change your outlook.
2. Connect with nature
Nature is one of the most beautiful gifts we have. Take a little time for it every day: a walk in the park, ten minutes in the garden, a look at the stars before bed. Being outdoors calms the mind and lifts the mood. It also reminds you how much there is to wonder at, and your worries take up less room.
3. Practise mindfulness
Mindfulness means being fully present in the moment you’re in. You aren’t going over yesterday or worrying about tomorrow. You’re here. Begin with a few deep breaths, and put your attention on your breathing. When your mind wanders, and it will, bring it gently back. A few minutes are enough to feel calmer. You’ll find simple exercises in breathe your way to mindfulness.
4. Be kind to yourself and to others
Kindness can change your life and the lives of the people around you. It starts at home: when you’re kind to yourself, it’s easier to be kind to others. Take time for what makes you happy, whether that’s a bubble bath, a run or an afternoon with friends.
Then let it spread. Smile at a stranger, offer a hand, listen to someone who needs to talk. Such gestures are small, and they travel far. I wrote about this in why small acts of kindness make such a difference.
5. Do what makes your heart sing
Painting, dancing, gardening, writing: whatever it is for you, give it a place in your week. When you do something you love, you become so absorbed that time seems to disappear. You come out of it rested and more alive. It doesn’t have to be useful, and you don’t have to be good at it.
6. Nurture your relationships
The people around you have a great influence on how you feel. Spend time with those who support you and lift you up, and who leave you feeling good about yourself. If a relationship regularly hurts you, it’s all right to set boundaries or to walk away. Good relationships feed us as much as what’s on our plate, which is why I call them primary food.
7. Look at what’s working
Life can be hard, and we all meet obstacles. Living as if it were heaven on earth doesn’t remove them. It changes how you approach them. Try to look first at what is working, and at the strengths and resources you have. Difficulties then start to look like chances to learn and grow.
8. Live by your values
When your life is in harmony with what matters to you, you feel a sense of purpose and fulfilment. Take a quiet moment to ask yourself: what do I stand for? What brings me the most joy and satisfaction? Once you know, check that your choices, large and small, go in the same direction.
9. Practise self-compassion
We all make mistakes, and we all have flaws. When you fall short, don’t beat yourself up. Speak to yourself as you would to a good friend, with kindness and understanding. You’ll recover from setbacks more quickly and move on with more strength. There’s more on this in why self-compassion is key to a fulfilling life.
10. Stay open
Try new things, visit new places, meet new people. Each time you step outside your comfort zone, your world gets a little larger, and you learn something about yourself.
What does this look like on an ordinary day?
None of this needs a special occasion. It lives in very ordinary gestures, and many of them are about how you care for yourself.
Take a meal. You can eat it standing up, with your phone in your hand, and hardly notice it. Or you can sit down, look at your plate and taste what you’re eating. It’s the same food and the same quarter of an hour, and a completely different experience. Choosing food that does you good, going outside in daylight, going to bed when you’re tired: these are everyday ways of saying thank you for the body that carries you through this life.
Try this today
Before you get up, think of one thing you’re looking forward to.
Go outside for ten minutes, without your phone.
Eat one meal sitting down, slowly, and enjoy it.
Say something kind to one person, and to yourself.
Tonight, write down three things you were thankful for.
Life is a precious gift, and it’s up to us to make the most of it. Joy is a big part of my work and of my book, and I describe what it rests on in the three pillars of joy and fulfilment. Start living as if it were heaven on earth today.
Frequently asked questions
How can I enjoy life more when I’m so busy?
Don’t look for extra time, look for moments you already have: the first drink of the morning, the walk to the car, a meal. Give one of them your full attention each day. Joy needs attention far more than it needs free hours.
What if I don’t feel grateful at the moment?
Then don’t force it. Start very small and very concrete: a warm bed, a message from a friend, a good piece of bread. Gratitude is a habit of noticing, and it grows with practice. Some days it is one small thing, and that is enough.
Isn’t it selfish to put my own joy first?
No. When you are rested and content, you have more patience, more warmth and more energy for the people around you. Looking after your own joy is one of the kindest things you can do for them.
Where do I start if I want to change several things?
Choose the one idea that made you think “yes, I miss that” and give it a week. One small change that you keep is worth more than ten you drop after a few days. Add the next one when the first feels natural.
Would you like some help?
Enjoying your food, your body and your days again is one of the things we work on in my group programmes in nutrition and health, such as Six Tuesdays in Montignac. If you’d like to hear when the next group opens, send me a note at hello@catherinepolet.coach.
Would you rather work one to one? I also coach online. Book a free 20-minute call, and tell me what a really good ordinary day would look like for you. We’ll start from there.
About Catherine
I’m Catherine Polet, a holistic nutrition health coach, yoga and autogenic training teacher for more than 30 years, author and speaker. I help people find a way of eating and living that suits their own body, online in English, French, Spanish and German, and in person in Southwest France.
