Positivity 101: Time to Celebrate!

Tracey Briggs, MA, Supervisor

Employee Wellness

Celebrate the Wins!

With another semester and school year ending, we should celebrate the successes of this UNM graduating class. As employees of this institution, celebrating all of the hard work and effort it took to see these incredible young people to this monumental milestone is important. 

It can be too easy to get caught up in the things that have not gone right during the past year, which can derail acknowledging the good. These negative feelings have impact and make it seem like we’re living under a personal dark cloud. 

It is in these moments, we frequently miss opportunities for happiness and connection. At times, especially when circumstances are trying, we often overlook everyday beauty and goodness, like a kind gesture from a stranger or the comfort of sitting outside and feeling the cool evening breeze.

How can you attentively rejoice over the good things in our lives that fill up our hearts and minds? 

Remember and list three positive things that have happened in your day and consider what created them. 

In doing this relatively simple act, you dial into the sources of goodness in your world. It’s a habit that can change the emotional tone of your life, replacing feelings of disappointment or entitlement with those of gratitude, which may be why this practice is associated with significant increases in happiness. 

Count the Good Things

To grab from the Happiness India Project creator, Sandip Roy, the “Three Good Things” have been found to be extremely powerful in increasing daily levels of happiness. Buy a small notebook. Put pen to paper and write down three things that went well for you today, and provide an explanation for why they went well. 

Your Daily Practice: Focus on the small wins each day. Here are the three steps for this happiness exercise:

1. Write it down – this is vital as it helps you focus on the events in a structured way.
2. Reflect on what you did – is essential as it adds to your sense of perceived control and well-being.
3. Timing is significant- either do it every day for one week or try it once a week for six weeks.

Simply stated- before you retire for the night, sit for a bit and reflect on your day. Think of three things that went well. Write them down and echo their goodness in your mind. Creating a physical record of the small wins, the tiny triumphs, the everyday victories helps you to celebrate them with joy.

Did you know Employee Wellness offers individual consultations free as part of your benefits for all benefits-eligible faculty and staff. Use this one-on-one service to be the healthiest person you can be! Contact us at wellness@unm.edu to set up a consultation on nutrition, fitness, or general health and wellness.