Finding Magic in the Everyday

Have you ever felt like you're just going through the motions of life and not really taking in the scenes around you? That all you do is check off your do-to list, retire to bed, and then wake up to check off another to-do list.

It's not a different to-do list, either.

It's the same as the day before; the only difference is that it's a new day, and maybe there's one new task.

Maybe, if you get lucky, you'll experience a whole new to-do list, but at the end of the day, you end up at the same place and wonder if finishing those new tasks was worth it.

I admit that sounds sad. I got caught up in remembering how I felt when I was younger. A lot of my days didn't really change, and there wasn't much that excited me back then.

I had no clue what I wanted, and I stopped myself from venturing outside my comfort zone. Many of my days were spent just going through the motions, focused on finishing the day.

Because I got in my way so often, my days were all the same, and I started to see life as a dull bubble that didn't have much to offer. It became hard to see the small, good things that came my way.

Thankfully, after much reflection, I found ways to pop that Dull Bubble that had developed around me, and I want to share some of those ways I used with you!

Though granted, "pop" probably isn't the word I should use, as it took years for the Dull Bubble to disappear. So, I should say that I'm sharing ways that will dissolve that bubble over time because things like this take time to change. I wish that weren't the case, but it is.

The timing of finding magic in the everyday is unique to each individual, so please don't get discouraged if you don't see how magical life can be the day after you read this. With time and practice, seeing the gentle beauty life has to offer becomes easier.

Anyway, I know that was a long intro, so let's get into it.

1.Take A Moment to Feel the Morning Light.

If you're like me, you're probably not that fond of the morning light.

It can be blinding to see first thing in the morning, and it can make you aware of how much sleep you got (or lacked). However, you can manipulate how the light floods into your space and make it worth seeing in the morning.

For me, I layer curtains so that the top layer blocks out most of the light coming in while the bottom layer lets in a soft graze of sunlight. (The top layer is smaller than the bottom layer).

By doing this, my space gives off a hazy vibe of sunlight and doesn't have harsh light shapes. (I know that some people even put up sun catchers on/near their windows to get an array of colors in their space)

Now, you might be wondering why I'm talking about curtains and sunlight. Well, when you create a scene that you're comfortable waking up to, you set a positive tone for the day. This can help you start your day on a more peaceful note, rather than cursing the sun for being in your face.

Those first moments are a good time to take in any sounds, smells, and dreams you've had before starting the day.

When you're not bothered by the morning, you give your brain and body time to adjust to the waking world. It's like giving yourself a softer scene rather than a harsh spotlight.

By taking a moment to be still and quiet before you start your day, you're placing yourself in a brief, solemn, meditative state.

Now, granted, you don't have to do this in your bed. You can do it anywhere. When I was in college, I spent mornings at my desk in the dark while my roommate was still asleep. Since I was the first one up, the whole space was quiet, and I could take in how I was feeling and what I had to do.

Basically, I prepared myself for my day and gave myself pep talks before leaving. Over time, taking in the morning moments allowed me to view the day as an actual new day and to appreciate the small details often overlooked, such as the weather, the birds, and the way the sunlight comes into my space.

It allowed me to be more in the moment instead of fast-forwarding to the end of the day. Even one minute of morning meditation, where you allow yourself to take in the environment, can make an impact.

2.Writing the Simple Moments.

Journaling is another excellent way to be aware of the small moments in life. Often, we think that we need to record only big events. Big events are easier to document because they involve a lot of motions, emotions, and conversations.

Writing about your daily life is harder because you're unsure what to even include in your journal. It often feels like daily life has nothing worth remembering.

However, you can totally write about the most mundane stuff if you want to. If you're using journaling to be more aware of your environment and emotions and to be in the moment, writing about the mundane can be a fascinating journey of self-discovery. It allows you to reflect on the small details that wouldn't matter at the moment, but can reveal profound insights about yourself and your surroundings.

For example, I often write about the foods I ate during the day. What I ate is not that important and can get repetitive (especially if you tend to eat the same meals), but once you do it long enough, you can see patterns that reveal some great insights.

In my own writing, I have found that certain foods impact my moods and that certain events are associated with specific foods.

If you're really keen on recording details, you can even find out why certain foods and meals have a special place in your heart.

Writing the most mundane moments allowed me to remember the days better, especially when I tended to move through them quickly.

Reflecting on the small details makes you repeat the day slowly and see that there may be more to it than you thought. Maybe you'll recall the flowers that broke through the sidewalk or the way more bugs flew around than usual.

3. Create Cozy Nooks and Visual Appeal in Your Space.

One of the things that I've learned is that your environment can make a world of difference in your mood, productivity, and mindfulness. Creating a cohesive space that works for you can ensure that things run smoother, especially when the world outside gets busier.

Plus, since the space is crafted to your style, you get a permanent (or temporary if you like to rearrange) space you can come to whenever you need to slow down in life!

The cozy nook, filled with a visual appeal personalized for you, is like a meditative space. It reminds you of things you love and can restabilize you by giving you somewhere to retreat when needed.

And the good news is that this space can be adapted to different forms!

For me, I've had different types of cozy nooks, and a good handful of them were travel-size!

For example, I love labradorite crystals and have quite a few around my home. However, on not-so-good days, when it's harder to leave home, I carry one of my smaller labradorite crystals and put it in my bag. It calms me down Whenever I hold it because it reminds me of home and the little nook where I place my other crystals.

Another way I made a cozy nook travelable is by placing it inside a journal. I filled the journal with pictures, mood boards, and whatever I wanted that calmed me, and since it was just a journal, I could pull it out and look through it whenever I wanted. (I also filled it with quotes, fun pictures, and small prompts).

At the end of the day, your cozy space is simply an area that you fill with things you love.

In turn, it is meant to be a grounding experience—a place you can go when you feel the world is moving too fast. Being in that area or holding that space allows you to readjust so that you don't miss the upcoming things or events in your day.

4. Creating Monthly Challenges

Monthly challenges, when used with reason and intention, are a great way to focus on areas of your life that you know you neglect.

It involves reflection, setting goals, and encouraging yourself to be more involved instead of just wishing you could do more.

With challenges, you set the pace, the actions, and the focus.

There are many ways to set up challenges for yourself, as they can take many forms.

Some people use bullet journaling and create habit trackers. Others make art or journal prompts to reflect on a particular topic. Challenges can be simple or hard, and it really depends on you.

One of my favorite ways to set up challenges for myself is to make art prompts based on a specific area of life I wish to pay more attention to and create artwork based on the prompts.

For example, I did spring prompts (in 2022) that centered around the idea of change because I was experiencing a lot of change around me and was having a hard time with it. I made the art prompts to get myself comfortable with change and to show myself that change is a natural thing.

I believe I ended up with five new artworks related to change. After that art challenge, I am a little more comfortable accepting that change is just a part of life.

There are definitely other ways to set challenges for yourself. If you want to celebrate your days more, taking pictures once a day is a great recording tactic. If you want to find gratitude, writing down "three things you're grateful for" for two weeks can change your perspective!

Overall, finding magic in the every day can take a while to develop as it involves changing one's mindset and perspective, but it's a skill that gets stronger with practice.

At their core, the ways I shared with you all call for you to slow down and rest a bit. When you get caught up in trying to complete the next task, the world moves faster, and that's when you miss moments. Even just slowing down for one second and observing a small detail allows the magic to dissolve the Dull Bubble.

One second can be on your drive to work when you acknowledge one person on the sidewalk. One second can be while sitting at your desk, listening to the AC unit roar. One second can be when you feel the water run down your fingers while washing your hands. It's the small moments that add up over time.