CONTINUE TO NURTURE THE SMALL JOYS YOU ARE FINDING RIGHT NOW

You are allowed to be proud of yourself for the small ways in which you are finding joy, right here, no matter how small. Because "finding joy" in small things does not mean ignoring or avoiding the big things. Instead, it's a way of paying attention to what might be beautiful and nurturing, even while you are waiting for things to fall into place.

Perhaps...

You are allowing yourself to embark on more side quests. You are finding ways to diversify your life through an active kind of waiting. It doesn't mean that the "main plot" isn't important right now; you are just realizing that there is more to discover right here. Maybe this looks like intentionally deepening your relationship with someone important in your life, and maybe that person is yourself. You're looking for ways to discover or rediscover what you enjoy, even if you don't know how it all connects yet. Or perhaps, you're just allowing yourself to be more open and flexible and find joy in the act of discovering. You're taking things in stride. You are freeing yourself up to discover what adventures might await, even if they are not a part of the "main plot."

Or,

You are allowing yourself to breathe deeply on winding paths and notice the flowers along the way. Perhaps your energy levels are not where you want them to be, or there are circumstances making it difficult to explore the things you want to explore right now, but you're learning how to be kind to yourself, anyway. You're learning that sometimes "finding joy" happens in the most subtle ways, from singing along to a song you enjoy to receiving a funny video in a text thread. Whatever it is, you're learning to cherish it. You're learning to recognize that these aren't just fleeting moments; they, too, have value, and this is the kind of joy that can grow.

Or,

You're moving through some experiences right now that are hard to name and describe, but you're taking the pressure off of yourself to make sense of it all. You're letting each day be what it needs to be. In that space, may you know that you are free to do this: when you encounter joy again, let it in.

Wherever you find yourself today, remember you've come so far when it comes to paying attention to what might be beautiful here.

More in this week's series called "Seeds of Progress", only with a subscription in the Storyteller App.

More tomorrow…
Sincerely,
Morgan Harper Nichols
@thestorytellerco
@morganharpernichols