4 Reasons Why Micro-Joys Will Boost Your Happiness

Poppy Jamie, best-selling author of Happy Not Perfect and founder/host of the Unwind with Poppy Jamie podcast, is a bit of a guru to us. She’s made her life’s work about prioritizing happiness and shutting out the things that are stealing from your happiness. When she mentioned the term “micro-joys,” naturally, we wanted to start achieving them asap.

A micro-joy may sound like something that brings us joy, like a sweet treat or a hug. And sure, those things have joy attached to them. But micro-joy actually refers to the resonant, rewarding joy that comes from within when practicing certain behaviors.

In a recent episode of the Unwind with Poppy Jamie podcast, Poppy spoke to Cyndie Spiegel, author of Micro-joys: Finding Hope (Especially) When Life Is Not Okay.

Here are the four takeaways that you need to know about boosting your long-term happiness and finding sustainable joy in the midst of life’s hardest moments— Poppy’s takeaways from Cydie:

1. Patience is a virtue.
“Patience is something we have to keep practicing. Patience will allow everything to run its course and fall into place. Panicking doesn’t make a cake bake faster or bring the blessings you desire into your life. It’s important to shift our narrative around joy and happiness to an internal state of being and give ourselves time to experience those difficult feelings until they pass.”

2. Allow yourself to sit for a few minutes.
“Cultivating rest is such a crucial element and one we often don’t prioritize, due to the belief that we have to constantly be on the go. Giving ourselves permission to rest allows us to reflect on the incredible blessings that bring us joy every day. Think about what sort of activities help you feel ‘restful.’ Rest doesn’t have to be lying down watching a movie (but it very much could). Sometimes, rest can mean walking, visiting with friends, or cooking.”

3. Discover the deepest joys because you sat with the hardest of sorrows.
“This is wisdom that will resonate with each and everyone of us. Life is not smooth sailing, but if we can focus on moments of lightness, delight, surprise, serendipity, comfort, and hope in spite of the pain, a positive mental attitude will prevail.”

4. Recognize the real value in giving and receiving a gift.
“There’s something incredibly thoughtful in knowing that someone put in time and effort to give you something, and vice versa. The amount of money you spend, the size, or the fit isn’t the point. It’s about knowing who you’re giving to and bringing them joy when you do. Seeing the smile that comes over their face at an unexpected gift is contagious. It’s an easy way to tap into joy when we can’t find it in other ways.”