The Joy of Small Things

Valeria Matto Co-Founder

We spend so much time waiting.

Waiting for things to get better, to feel happier.

We’re waiting for the big moments, the achievements, the milestones, the days that will finally make everything feel worth it.

But what if we’re missing something important along the way?

Why We Underestimate Small Joys

We’re often taught that happiness comes from major successes, like getting into your dream school, winning something, or reaching a huge goal.

But our brains don’t actually work that way.

Psychologists have found that frequent, small positive experiences tend to improve our overall well‑being more consistently than rare, big ones. In other words, tiny joys act like emotional fuel, they don’t fix everything, but they keep us moving.

What Counts as a “Small Joy”?

Small joys can look like:

Your favorite song coming on at the right moment
Laughing way too hard at something unimportant
Drinking a cold beverage when you’re really thirsty
A good morning text
Finishing a show and feeling oddly attached to the characters
Sitting in silence and not feeling rushed

The special thing about them is that they’re ordinary.

A Simple Exercise: The “3 Small Things” Rule

Once a day, ask yourself: what are three small, but good things that happened to me today?

For example:

“I liked my outfit today.”
“The bus ride was peaceful.”
“I didn’t feel as tired as yesterday.”

This exercise is all about giving your mind proof that good things still exist, even on bad days.

A Final Thought

You don’t need to earn joy and you don’t need to wait for things to be perfect.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is notice something small and good, and let yourself enjoy it without guilt.

At Bloom, we believe healing doesn’t always start with big changes. Sometimes, it starts with tiny moments that remind you: I’m still here. And this moment is okay.

Learn More