for me the ones that come to mind: able to walk (and run), not stuck under strict bed rest for days, not in excruciating pain, able to sleep at night, not so fatigued I don’t want to get out of bed, not wanting to die, not having PTSD nightmares
there are many others - while it really seems like a stupid exercise, when I was really suffering mentally, I found contemplating times when I was in much worse pain or stress and focusing in what ways I was not currently in pain or stressed really did help me feel a kind of happiness and gratitude that improved my overall mood.
usually I just ignore the way I feel when I’m not in pain, but if I actually sit and think about what it feels like to be content and have ease with my body in contrast with how my body feels when I’m sick or injured, I can actually connect with a pleasurable feeling of contentedness that I can then better recognize and enjoy more frequently.
I would do this for like 30 minutes once a day, usually in the morning before I got out of bed - just trying to really pay attention to the comfort, bodily ease, happiness, etc. that I felt in that moment, or remembering moments when I felt those ways, and then once I sort of connected with those feelings enough that I was really feeling them in a sustained way, then I would re-iterate my intention to cultivate those feelings in my life in the future, and that I desire this kind of stuff for everyone - everyone deserves to be healthy, happy, content, etc. Sometimes I had to imagine myself as a stranger to do this - I find it easier to feel good-will towards strangers than myself, but a future me is admittedly a stranger to me - and just as deserving of happiness.
All this said, I don’t want to imply happiness is always a choice, but I have been surprised at how well “thinking” as a tool has worked at providing some relief (even if it’s ultimately a bandaid until you can get through the hard times and hopefully find ourself in better circumstances).
I am so fortunate to have a roof over my head. Hot water. Food in my pantry. Gas in my car.
for me the ones that come to mind: able to walk (and run), not stuck under strict bed rest for days, not in excruciating pain, able to sleep at night, not so fatigued I don’t want to get out of bed, not wanting to die, not having PTSD nightmares
there are many others - while it really seems like a stupid exercise, when I was really suffering mentally, I found contemplating times when I was in much worse pain or stress and focusing in what ways I was not currently in pain or stressed really did help me feel a kind of happiness and gratitude that improved my overall mood.
usually I just ignore the way I feel when I’m not in pain, but if I actually sit and think about what it feels like to be content and have ease with my body in contrast with how my body feels when I’m sick or injured, I can actually connect with a pleasurable feeling of contentedness that I can then better recognize and enjoy more frequently.
I would do this for like 30 minutes once a day, usually in the morning before I got out of bed - just trying to really pay attention to the comfort, bodily ease, happiness, etc. that I felt in that moment, or remembering moments when I felt those ways, and then once I sort of connected with those feelings enough that I was really feeling them in a sustained way, then I would re-iterate my intention to cultivate those feelings in my life in the future, and that I desire this kind of stuff for everyone - everyone deserves to be healthy, happy, content, etc. Sometimes I had to imagine myself as a stranger to do this - I find it easier to feel good-will towards strangers than myself, but a future me is admittedly a stranger to me - and just as deserving of happiness.
All this said, I don’t want to imply happiness is always a choice, but I have been surprised at how well “thinking” as a tool has worked at providing some relief (even if it’s ultimately a bandaid until you can get through the hard times and hopefully find ourself in better circumstances).