Rose-Colored Glasses: A Practice of Gratitude and Presence
Since I was a kid, people have said I see the world through rose-colored glasses, that I’m always finding the good. I remember a time in college during my summer internship where my co-worker was irritated by those glasses. “Why do you always find a way to see the positive, that’s so annoying” Those were Alan’s exact words!! I used to smile and take that as a compliment, but over time I’ve realized it’s more than a personality trait; it’s a way of being. It’s the practice of choosing to see life with gratitude and good intention, rather than through the lens of fear, angst, comparison, or scarcity. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve spent time in comparison and have definitely led from a place of fear before. Do I still worry from time to time, yes, but I’ve learned not to set up shop there.
Over the last decade, what I’ve discovered is that happiness isn’t just about being a positive person and it’s not about denying what’s hard. It’s about noticing what’s here, right now. For a long time, I was always on to the next, which meant I was rarely in the present moment. And I mean RARELY! Rose-colored glasses or not, I was on a hamster wheel. Go, go, go was my speed… until I came across meditation.
Over 10 years ago I was introduced to mediation and wow am I grateful!! Both my mindfulness and meditation practice have helped me become far more present. I would say present-moment awareness has been one of the top benefits of my practice. I pay attention to this breath, this moment, this person in front of me, and choose to be right here, right now. That choice allows me to settle into joy and happiness much more often, which is such a gift. So how is that possible just by meditating 15 minutes a day or consistently practicing mindfulness?
Let’s talk science. When I teach my stress management class- we dive into how the brain works. When we practice mindfulness and meditation, the brain literally begins to rewire itself through a process called neuroplasticity. Regions responsible for stress and emotional reactivity, like the amygdala, become less active, while the prefrontal cortex, responsible for emotional regulation, focus, and decision-making, becomes stronger and more connected. Meditation also increases serotonin and dopamine, helping us feel calmer and more content. How is this possible? Because the brain changes based on what we repeatedly practice. Research from Harvard and Stanford shows that people who intentionally cultivate happiness and a sense of purpose not only experience less stress but live, on average, 8-10 years longer. When we train our minds to return again and again to the present, we become active participants in our own joy rather than bystanders waiting for life to get easier. (Do you hear the cheering?)
What I’ve come to understand over the years is that happiness isn’t waiting in the next milestone, the next achievement, or checked box (and I really liked checking boxes). It lives in the quiet knowing that who you already are is enough and the present moment is a gift. Ten years ago, I began asking myself different questions as I journaled:
• Was I truly living by the values I claimed?
• What did my heart actually desire?
• Who am I beneath the roles and expectations?
• Is the story I’m telling myself even true?
• What am I grateful for right now?
As I slowed down and turned inward with awareness and compassion, something shifted. When I mindfully created space for myself, I remembered who I was beneath the noise. I stepped out of the comparison and into my own lane. I also realized didn’t need to do everything for everyone, which created me to always be thinking about the next thing. When I stopped rushing past my life and quit checking boxes just to say I checked them, I started meeting life moment by moment and guess what….joy naturally rose to the surface. Presence became the bridge between seeing clearly and living fully. It felt good.
So maybe those rose-colored glasses aren’t about ignoring reality at all. Maybe they’re a reminder that we always have a choice in how we intentionally show up. I like to say that the bend in the road is not the end of the road. We get to choose our attitude every single day, and when you couple that with gratitude and pause long enough to notice what’s already here, happiness stops feeling like a destination and becomes a practice. It lives right here, in this breath, in this moment.
Have you taken time to reflect on your own happiness?
Maybe the questions I sat with 10 years ago might help you become more aware of how you’re seeing your life and how you’re choosing to show up in it! If you have any questions about how to start a meditation or mindfulness practice, just reach out! - Jodi
Jodi Stepanek, MPM, CMMI
Founder of Big Heart Meditation & Mindfulness
www.bigheartmm.com
