![Create a Habit of Celebrating Small [Day 3: create]](http://essenceofamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/cropped-essence-of-amber.png)
It only took me about 28 years, but I’ve finally started to make my bed every morning. I pick up all the clothes scattered around the floor, open the curtains, and turn on the oil diffuser. It takes me 5 minutes at most but is a great start to my day. I’ve heard it takes at least 21 days to create a habit. and I’m fairly certain I’ve made my bed that many days. A lot the time, it gets unmade by one of the resident monsters that live in my house (see below).
Similarly, celebrating small — praising God in the small things of everyday life — is a habit that must be cultivated. At least for me, this is something that does not come naturally. Finding the joy in each and every day is like finding a needle in a haystack some days when my temper is as high as the temperatures in Kathmandu. When my heart dreams big and longs for more fulfilling days, praising Him for anything other than His innate goodness seems pretty much impossible. Retraining myself to think praisefully –to celebrate small– is a task ongoing. I’ve found there some questions I can ask myself to help me see so that I may rewire this mind set to default negative.
- How did God show up today?
- How did God speak to me today?
- Did He answer a prayer or give hope in a situation?
- Did He allow me to get one step closer to a big dream?
- Did God use me in the life of another person — or someone else in my life?
These are just starter questions. The point is to create a habit of seeing God in our daily lives and praising Him for the little victories He graciously gives us each day. Remembering the end goal isn’t everything, we can magnify God in the mundane and praise Him with each painstakingly small step of progress towards our big dreams.
Thinking this way is maybe the only better start to each day than a freshly made bed. I’m so glad I’ve created this habit.
How will you create a habit of celebrating small?
Talk to me in the comment section below!
Thank you for this Amber! What a wonderful reminder!
Thank you for your words of encouragement, Beth!
I need to get back into the habit of making my bed!
It’s a habit that slips away quickly! We are so used to getting into a made bed now that I will even make it in the evening if I haven’t made it yet for some reason!
Before we even started learning Thai, I knew I would have to focus on the small accomplishments, rather than waiting to celebrate once I was “fluent.” Sometimes, the accomplishments seems so minuscule, but being aware and grateful for each one, has made the difference between continuing and quitting. Btw..I hope you are celebrating your photography because it is certainly beautiful!
That’s definitely a good habit. Language learning was — and is — a real emotional struggle for me. Praise God you have stuck it out! And THANK YOU. I don’t get enough practice taking photos but I do find it relaxing. Wish we could stroll around and take photos together!
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