Discovering Magic in the Mundane
People often seek therapy when they’re in the lowest of lows. There’s an active problem and issue. But what if there’s no clear issue or symptom? What if you just feel, bleh?
Well, first off, know that you’re not alone. Life is really lived in the ordinary moments, when you feel bored on a Tuesday morning, when you feel tired and lazy after a long day at work, when you have to do a bunch of dishes., but we easily forget this: we often remember the high highs and low lows of life rather than the meat of the in-between moments. And social media compounds this human tendency, highlighting all the big and shiny moments. But everyone lives in the small moments; that’s where habits are formed, where beliefs are solidified, where we are made.
You’re not alone if you just feel bleh AND if you don’t have a clear problem or trauma, that does not disqualify you from therapy. Some of the most significant therapeutic work can be about exploring why you feel bleh and what you want your life to look like. Therapy doesn’t always have to be processing childhood or traumatic events. It’s important to carve out time to process life values and how you want to feel and behave during the mundane moments. One of the most important tools you’ll learn in sustainable and holistic therapeutic work is how to nurture the “wow or how” to discover the magic in the mundane. It’s not just a philosophical pursuit – it’s a practical tool for mental well-being.
Different Ways to Discover the Magic in the Mundane
Reframing the Ordinary: A common tool in therapy is the cognitive reframe. Going from “She canceled, she hates me! Everyone hates me! I am the worst!” to, “I’m a bit sad she can’t hang out. Maybe we can try to get together later this week,” or going from, “Today sucks! Nothing is going according to plan, today is doomed,” to, “Today has been really hard. I wonder if I can schedule something pleasant later to make the day a tiny bit better.” It can be a powerful mental move that both validates the difficulty and orients the self towards hope and positivity. The same reframe tool can be applied to ordinary things in order to discover magic in the mundane. A commute can be just a commute or it can be an opportunity to listen to your favorite soundtrack or a valuable time to reflect. Walking can just be walking or it can be a time to reconnect with the outside world, whether that’s nature or an urban environment filled with different and interesting smells, sights, and people.
Creating Small Rituals: Finding personal rituals can enhance daily life and really bring light to beauty or meaning in the ordinary. This could be lighting a candle during an evening routine or looking at the sky instead of your phone for a few minutes when you wake up. The smallest of rituals can create space and a sense of consistency and intention in the day to day.
Engaging the Senses: Intentionally draw your attention to sensory experiences: savor the taste of morning coffee, notice the afternoon breeze, consider the shifting light and shadows throughout the day, take out your headphones and see if you can hear a sound from nature. Our senses are direct channels to the world outside of us, and when we tap into them we might tap into connection and appreciation.
Mindfulness and Presence: Discovering the magic in the mundane has a lot to do with mindfulness. I’m hesitant to include mindfulness here because it can quickly become a meaningless buzzword, but it truly is so relevant and important, especially in this conversation. Generally slowing down and really noticing the daily moments can do wonders in discovering the magic in the mundane. You can’t discover if you’re distracted.
Psychological Benefits of Discovering Magic in the Mundane
If you engage in any of the above ways in order to nurture a sense of awe during daily life you’ll begin to see some long term effects. Your perspective might be broadened, your habitual thought patterns might be a bit disrupted, you might feel a little less anxious. Maybe you feel more creative. Maybe you can more easily access that “flow” state psychologists talk about, when you’re fully immersed in something, experiencing concentration and a sense of satisfaction and joy. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll feel a little less bleh.
Reach Out
To return to my initial point, therapy is not just about working through the low lows. Therapy can be a comprehensive process working towards and working to maintain mental well being. Discovering the magic in the mundane is one of the many tools your therapist may teach you. If you’re interested in therapy and have been feeling hesitant, not knowing if you had any specific goals or issues, only knowing that you’ve been feeling off, I’m here to say that therapy is for you.
You can discover and identify goals along the way. You don’t have to figure it out alone and we’re here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out and get started today!
Sydney Kittrell

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