Joy is an important ingredient for our brain’s health. It’s crucial not only to our survival, but flourishing! Healthy brains are full of gratitude. In this day and age, there are plenty of ways to get creative with experiencing and spreading joy.

One way I intentionally experience and spread joy is through micro habits. One in particular I want to share is the habit of texting my gratitude and appreciation to friends.

There are two ways I do this currently and am hoping to grow in it more.

First way, as I prepare to fall asleep at night, I take a few minutes to think about a person I appreciate and am grateful for. Then I formulate a text message to that person, sharing my appreciation for them and why. I like to call out specific qualities about that person, what goodness I see in them, and how they impact my life in a positive way. I hit the send button, and eagerly hope that text brings a smile to that person’s face.

The second way I like to experience and spread joy is through texting my friend gratitude I can think of for that day. What I mean by this is, I have a friend in my life who I have a habit of texting on a semi regular basis, listing the things I am grateful for. Her response? She texts me right back the things she is grateful for, too! Soon enough we are synchronized in texting back and forth, the things we are grateful for that day and find ourselves both feeling lighter and less stressed than prior to texting our gratitude. Not only is this intentional work for our brain, it’s a meaningful way to stay connected with someone I do not have opportunity to see very often!

So there you have it, sharing appreciation via text to those you appreciate and starting gratitude tests are two meaningful ways to experience and spread joy in your life, today!