Mindful Monday: Embracing Droplets of Glee
Reflections from a Mindful Monday exploration.
It’s easy to overlook the subtle joys that can bring lightness and balance to your days. In this reflection from a Mindful Monday session, we delve into the concept of “Glee” and how noticing small, joyful moments—what we call “droplets of Glee”—can help shift your emotional and physical state.
Welcoming Presence and Awareness
Begin with a simple check-in to notice where you are, and how you are being. Taking a moment to feel your presence in the room, listen to the sounds around, and tune into your inner state allows you to step out of the rush and find a grounded, centred place. This practice of checking in is a gentle invitation to become more present, develop deeper awareness, creating a foundation for noticing glee.
Discovering the Essence of "Glee"
“Glee” often brings to mind images of joy and excitement, but it doesn’t always have to be grand. There is beauty in “tiny Glee”—those small, often fleeting moments that spark a bit of happiness. Maybe it’s glee from a glimmer; the sight of a leaf, the sound of laughter, or a memory that brings a smile. Embracing these small joys is about savouring the little things that add up to create a greater sense of well-being. Perhaps it is a bigger sense of glee brought by laughter that will not stop, in a room of friends.
The Power of Droplets of Glee
Small moments of joy have the power to uplift, even during challenging times. “Droplets of Glee” act as gentle reminders that we can find lightness in our days, even when feeling heavy with fatigue or managing persistent pain. Building a personal collection of moments, a “ventral vagal library,” can offer a powerful anchor for calm and connection. This library of joys is like a toolset—tiny, gleeful memories or activities that you can draw upon to restore calm and shift into a more regulated state.
Embodying Glee Through Visualisation
One way to explore this idea of moments of glee is through visualisation. Imagine yourself catching leaves, as if each leaf represents a small joy. As you move through this exercise, you can connect with your breath and explore sensation in your body. Visualisations like these can support you to feel glee physically in the moment you choose.
Embracing Glee in Everyday Life
Embracing these small, gleeful moments is about inviting more lightness into everyday life. Noticing “droplets of Glee” throughout your day can help build resilience, bringing a renewed sense of well-being and connection to yourself. It’s a gentle reminder that glee doesn’t need to be grand—it can be found in the little things, creating a ripple effect that shifts your overall state.
Putting It Into Practice
To integrate this practice, try noticing small moments that bring glee or lightness into your day. You might even want to keep a list of your own “ventral vagal library,” a personal collection of moments that make you feel centred, calm, and happy - with a little extra sparkle!
Sometimes, it’s the smallest moments that bring the greatest sense of ease.
Take a moment today to pause, breathe, and invite in a droplet of Glee.
