March

The month of March is an exciting time of year, in my opinion.  Here in Utah we start to see the first signs of springtime. After a long winter of snow and cold weather, those subtle signs of spring are a welcome sight. March is also a great time of year because of March Madness, the college basketball playoff tournament. This is a time when people from all over the country get excited about their teams and hoping their team will win. Most March Madness tournaments produce some exciting games with buzzer beating finishes. The full range of human emotion can be seen during these fiercely competed contests.

Life is an amazing experience. It is open ended and unique for all of us. Each day brings new opportunities, challenges, and things to get excited about. One small thing we can all do to improve our happiness is to find joy and contentment in the small things of life such as a spring bud on a tree or an exciting basketball game. What are the small things in life that get you excited?

Many of us go through life with our heads down, feeling sad about missed opportunities from the past or worrying about the future. One key to finding contentment in life is to learn to enjoy the moment. There are subtle beauties in the moment that we often miss because of our focus on the past or the future.

One therapy model we love at Logan River Academy is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT focuses on mindfulness and learning to live in the present. ACT helps us learn to accept thoughts and feelings rather than push them away or distract ourselves. This model teaches us to make room for difficult emotions and to learn to observe them rather than get hooked or fused to them. As we lessen our resistance, thoughts tend to be less troublesome and move on more quickly.

One part of ACT I am personally working on is learning to connect in the present. I am trying to focus more on what is going on around me such as sounds, textures, and movements. I am trying to drive a little slower, eat in a more relaxed and slow paced fashion, and enjoy each conversation. Learning to connect and live in the Here-and-Now is crucial to contentment. Many of us go through life thinking life will be better after we make this much money, or have this relationship, or go on this vacation. When we live this way we miss out on the many joys right in front of us.

As we learn to appreciate each moment of each day, the hope is that contentment can settle upon us. ACT acknowledges that pain is inevitable and part of all of our lives. How we respond to pain is our choice. If we respond poorly, suffering is sure to come. If we make room for pain and handle it well, suffering may not have to be part of the equation. Let’s all try to enjoy the present and recognize the small, subtle nuances of life that can bring great levels of contentment!

If you are interested in learning more about ACT, please consider reading The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris. I am currently reading this book and enjoying it very much. 

 

Matt Erickson, LCSW