There is so much talk about the pursuit of happiness. How can we create happiness, how can we boost happiness, how can we bring more happiness into our lives. There is an abundance of materials on this topic.

One concept I heard of lately from several different directions has to do with “Savoring”. Just as we should savor a good cup of coffee with a delicious cookie, we should savor so many other things in our life. The Counting Crows hit it on the nail: “I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Yet studies show that this is true. Savoring, slowing down to enjoy a specific moment or experience does boost happiness. When we are enjoying something and then we name it to ourselves, this imprints it in our mind and in our heart. Call it a kind of collecting of happy moments, happy bits. And often it’s really the small things, as the cliché goes, enjoying the small things in life. A beautiful view, a crisp and clean-aired morning, your child asleep with a smile on their face, spotting your loved one suddenly in a crowd of people (even though you knew that they were coming to meet you), watching your child paint or hear them playing the piano, a boy and a girl in the street holding hands. This list can go on and on, because these moments are often around us. Indeed, they will vary from person to person, from country to country and from culture to culture. Beauty is subjective, no doubt. But these moments exist. The main question is if we stop to acknowledge them and to call them by name.

Austin Kleon called it to notice when you are happy. His advice is to share it with your kids as well. I add to this that when you notice when you are happy you can make a mental note of this, and then try to bring more of this into your life, deliberately. Lately, I’ve been in my regular to-do, productive mood. If there is suddenly free time during the afternoon or evening my brain asks – so, what’s on our to-do list? Is there more washing in the hamper? Should I clean out this drawer or closet? Should I learn this new skill or find something else productive to accomplish? Last night I decided to rest a bit from this mode, and I chose to watch a rom-com movie all by myself, just for the fun of it. Ram was out playing basketball, the kids were on their way to bed, and I already exercised and showered. A movie it was! And I had such a great time, enjoyed it so much and it literally made me smile. This good internal feeling inside followed me till this morning. When Ram came home I shared this revelation with him, thus naming it, and I’m sure I’ll find a way to have other such experiences. Yes, I know, this is such a boring example, so mundane and totally not exciting, but that’s exactly my point…

And the concept of paying it forward is also so important. If we sit for our daily family supper, and we have a good laugh between us, maybe just saying – “wow, we’re having such a great time” – will imprint this in our family’s mind, in this way boosting happiness for my husband and for our kids.

I believe this also connects to the currently common practice of expressing gratitude. A daily practice of writing down a few things that you are grateful for in your day and in your life makes you think about these positive aspects of your life once again, by bringing them to focus and to the front of your mind, and strengthens these feelings in you more significantly.

Do you agree? Do you also experience this in your everyday life? I’m curious to hear your thoughts about this. And in the meantime, please find one good thing to savor and name it!