Mindful Moment: Joy

A brief practice for noticing the quiet joy that's already present in your day.

This meditation guides you through gentle breath awareness and reflective noticing—inviting you to recall a recent moment of joy, explore what helped you notice it, and set an intention to lean into joy today. Rather than searching for something big, this practice reframes joy as something quieter and more accessible: a child's smile, shared laughter, warmth on your skin.

Perfect for: IECMH professionals needing a quick emotional reset between sessions. Early childhood educators seeking a moment of presence before greeting families. Parents and caregivers wanting to reconnect with small joys amid daily demands. Leaders looking to model mindful pausing for their teams.

Part of the Mindful Moments series—brief pauses for nurturance and resilience.

Transcript

Welcome to this mindful moment. I'm Cherise, And I'm glad you are here. For this mindful moment of joy. I invite you to simply pause. There's nothing you need to do. Nothing you need to accomplish. So get comfortable and lower or close your eyes. Let's begin. As you settle, Take a slow, Deep breath. And. . . And out. Take another deep breath. Oh. And out. Return your breathing to its normal rhythm. And simply notice your breath. Without changing anything. Joy is often thought of as something big. Something we celebrate. Or something we wait for. But sometimes, Joy is much quieter. It's a smile that spreads across a child's face. The laughter shared with a friend or colleague. The warmth of the sun on your skin. Or a deep breath that reminds you I am here. As you continue breathing. Gently ask yourself. When was the last time I experienced joy? Don't search too hard. Simply notice what comes up. Now ask yourself. What helped me notice that moment? Perhaps someone shared it with you. Perhaps you slowed down long enough to receive it. Or perhaps joy has been there all along, Quietly waiting to be noticed. As we add. Take one final deep breath. And as you exhale, Quietly set your intention. Today I lean into joy. Remember. Joy isn't always something we find. Sometimes it's something we notice. Thank you for taking this mindful moment for yourself. Until next time. May you continue nurturing your mind. Building resilience one moment at a time.