It can be easy to go through life without really feeling joyful. We get so caught up in our daily routine that we start to forget what it feels like to truly be happy. And so, we wait for things to happen to us, for moments of elation that will lift us out of the mundane. We wait for big moments - like a promotion at work or a trip to an exotic location - to feel joy, but often these things don't live up to our expectations.

So, what if we are searching too hard or looking for joy in the wrong places?

Perhaps it is not a grandiose event that we should bank on, but the small, everyday moments we often take for granted. Instead of waiting or searching around, we should appreciate the everyday moments that make up our lives. The small things that make us happy - like a cup of coffee in the morning or a walk in nature.

When we take time to appreciate the everyday, integral pieces of our lives, joy can also become an integral

and familiar piece. Here are three ways we can achieve this and find joy in everyday things.

Practice Mindfulness

As each of us knows, stress and anxiety can be all-consuming, making it difficult to focus on anything else.

When you are anxious, your mind is constantly racing and thinking about all sorts of worst-case scenarios. This can be exhausting and only makes your anxiety worse.

Mindfulness helps to break this cycle by teaching you how to focus your attention on the present moment. By simply slowing down and noticing your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, you ground yourself in the here and now. This grounding practice lets you find peace and calm amid chaos and anxiety. As you grow more mindful, you will notice the small joys you've overlooked in life. A smile from a stranger. The satisfaction of completing a task. Only when we pay attention can we truly absorb the value these simple things bring to our lives.

Find Gratitude

It is easy to focus on what we don't have and allow it to overshadow what we do have. We can become so

wrapped up in wanting things that we forget to be grateful for the things we already have. Gratitude, however, has the power to shift our perspective and help us see the good in our lives.

When we appreciate what we have, we are more likely to find joy in the simple things and be content with what we have. This does not mean we should never want anything or strive for improvements in our lives. However, it is important to remember that gratitude can help us appreciate what we have and find happiness in the present moment.

Slow Down!

We are constantly bombarded with messages telling us to do more, be more, and consume more. Caught up in the rat race of deadlines and never-ending to-do lists, we often find ourselves going from one task to the next without stopping and smelling the roses.

However, studies have shown that slowing down can lead to a more joyful life. When we allow ourselves to

savor life's simple pleasures, we open the door to happiness. In addition, by setting boundaries on our work

schedule, we can create more time for leisure activities and vital relationships. In other words, we can create more space for joy.

So next time you feel overwhelmed, hit pause, and remember that slowing down is sometimes the best way to enjoy the journey. The next time you find yourself searching for joy, look around you — it might just be closer than you think.