Even Amid Strife, We Can Always Name Something We Love
Many of us maintain a gratitude practice where we express thanks for things like our loved ones, our job, our health, or our friends. But when many of these things are in flux, it’s hard to reach for that gratitude. But there is so much more we can be grateful for. Our clothing, shelter, food, and even our breath. Gratitude is important, but an even simpler practice is to just name the little things we love.
Small Things Count
When my anger builds because someone wronged me … or I am intensely frustrated because of a software glitch … or a family member snapped at me, I turn to simple things I love, and it leads me to a calmer state where I am reminded of what matters.
I love my morning chai.
I love the smell of my dogs’ paws. 
I love the poem “Eternity,” by William Blake.
I love the night sky.
I love turquoise stones.
I love the sound of wind chimes.
Reducing our search for things we love to the simplest among them is surprisingly helpful when we need to lift our spirits. It lends the gentlest beam of light to an otherwise disheartened mood.
Naming What We Love Overcomes Our Negativity Bias
We are hardwired to focus on the negative. Why? Because in ancient times, survival was an everyday fight. It benefited us to look out for things like a tiger attack or an ominous weather condition. Focusing on potential threats could mean the difference between life and death. Today, we have fewer reasons to be concerned with our very survival, but our nervous system doesn’t know that. One way to nurture a happier state of mind is to focus on what we love.
Tell me, beloved, what do you love?