Hey everyone, my name is Austin and I want to
personally welcome you all wherever you're listening
to the very first episode of Unfiltered Thoughts
with Austin. Today we're going to be talking
about unexpected joys and finding happiness where
you least expect it. Let's dive deep into the
heart of everyday experiences and discover the
joy hidden within them. Now I know we all have
our ups and downs, but sometimes the most beautiful
moments come from the least expected places.
As a general society, we often think about the
bad rather than the good. Our minds often go
to the worst -case scenarios in a lot of situations.
Why is that? Why do we often think about the
bad, the ugly, and the worst before the good?
Why do we often ask for the bad news first before
we ask for the good news? Now, I'm not speaking
for everybody, but I am speaking for the general
populace. What would happen if instead of thinking
of the worst -case scenarios, the bad, the ugly,
and the worst, or asking for the bad news first,
we start thinking about the best -case scenarios,
the good, the bad, and the great, and asking
for the good news first. What would happen? So
let's explore where we can find happiness amidst
the chaos and cultivate a spirit of gratitude
that transforms our perspectives, and you'll
begin to see the world more brightly on those
gloomy days. Let's start with a little story.
Picture this. It's a rainy Monday morning. and
you're stuck in traffic, feeling the weight of
the world on your shoulders. You're running late
for work, and all you can think about is the
stress of the week ahead. But then as you look
out your window, you see a small child, splashing
in puddles, laughing with sheer joy. In that
moment, something shifts. You realize that happiness
can be found in the simplest of things, like
a child's laughter or the beauty of rain. This
brings us to the first point of our discussion.
Finding joy in the mundane. We often overlook
the small moments that can illuminate our days.
Gratitude is like a lens. It allows us to focus
on the positive aspects of our lives, no matter
how small they may be. When we practice gratitude,
we train our minds to recognize the good around
us. Now, let's be honest. How many of you wake
up each day and feel like you're on autopilot?
I know I do. You go through the motions. brush
your teeth, prepare your breakfast, commute to
work, and take off endless to -do lists. It can
feel tedious, can't it? But what if I told you
that within these mundane moments lies an opportunity
for happiness? Life can often feel like a whirlwind,
can't it? We get so caught up in the daily grind,
in our routines, and in our responsibilities,
that we sometimes forget to pause and notice
the small sparks of joy that pop up when we least
expect them. Have you ever had one of those serendipitous
moments? Maybe you stumbled upon an old friend
while running errands, or perhaps you found a
$20 belt in your coat pocket that you had forgotten
about. These moments, while small, can bring
a burst of happiness that lights up your day
and reminds you of the beauty of life. I want
to share a personal story with you. The end of
May last year, I was rushed to the emergency
room only to find out I almost contracted sepsis.
But before I continue my story, let me give you
guys a little bit of a backstory on myself. I'm
a college student, and I decided to move back
home from my senior year due to mental health
issues. And I'm not sure if it was a god thing,
because two weeks prior to me going to the hospital,
I was packing up my apartment to go move back
home. What I thought was the common flu ended
up almost taking my life. For two weeks, I was
incredibly ill. because of it. I ended up lippuzing
10 pounds in those two weeks. Not exactly the
weight loss rating I signed up for, but I digress.
I was rushed to the hospital and they immediately
had to administer fluids through my veins along
with some pretty heavy antibiotics because I
was severely dehydrated and from what I've been
told, it's what gets into your body the fastest.
The emergency room nurses looked at me like they
had seen a ghost. I was gray in the face and
had thick black circles around my eyes. The doctor
said that if I had waited another week to go
to the hospital then I would have died. I ended
up having surgery the next day and then another
surgery 12 days later. You may be thinking yourself
Austin, what is the point of this story? Sorry
guys, I'm a writer and I love telling stories.
I'm a very tell it how it is, no sugar coating
type of guy. And it's the title of this podcast,
Unfiltered Thoughts. with Austin because I want
to be 100 % real with y 'all. So the first three
days of playing Hospital was a lot of fun. Well,
fun is a bit of a loose term. I didn't hate it.
I had nurses and techs taking tremendous care
of me. Good food, TV, friends and family coming
to visit me pretty much every day. I had it made,
but at the same time, I felt this overwhelming
sense of loneliness over me. Definitely not foreshadowing
for a future episode. I can go on and on about
each individual person that came to visit me,
those that texted me to check up on me, and those
that gave me a warm welcome when I returned back
to school, but this would be a two hour podcast.
I felt an overwhelming amount of joy when I saw
the doorknob of my hospital door turn and I saw
a familiar friendly face. And speaking of joy,
open, and speaking of staying open to joy, let's
dive. into a quick segment on mindfulness practices.
Mindfulness is a powerful tool that helps us
remain present, allowing us to notice the beauty
around us. Here are a few simple practices to
incorporate into your daily life. First of all,
how about we start our day with gratitude? Each
morning, instead of getting on our phones and
take a moment to reflect on three things you've
read before, this sets a positive tone for your
day and opens your heart to joy. And the second
one is mindful walks. When you're out for a walk,
put your phone away again. Focus on your surroundings.
The colors, the sounds, the smells. Let yourself
be mindful and fully present in that moment.
Joy Journal. Keep a journal where you jot down
joyful moments, no matter how small. Over time,
you'll create a collection of happiness that
you can revisit whenever you need. a boost and
over time you'll begin to see a shift in your
mindset. I'm a writer. That's what I love doing.
It's my passion. So joy journaling has been my
go -to. Not only do I engage in joy journaling,
but I also write poetry. I would often refer
back to poems I wrote several years ago compared
to now and just see the transformation in how
far I've come. And then the last thing, add some
humor into your daily routine. One technique
I found helpful in transforming These monotonous
tasks into moments of joy is to inject some humor
into them. Maybe it's turning your morning coffee
ritual into a mini dance party in your kitchen
or listening to a comedy podcast during your
commute. Laughter is a powerful antidote to stress,
and it can turn the most ordinary moments into
extraordinary ones. Speaking of joy, let's talk
about kindness. Have you ever noticed how a simple
act of kindness, a smile, a compliment, or even
holding the door open for someone, can create
a ripple effect? When we're kind, we not only
uplift others, but also elevate our own spirits.
It's a win -win. But let's not stop there. Gratitude
doesn't change how we see ourselves. It also
impacts our interactions with others. When we
express gratitude to those around us, we strengthen
our relationships. and create a ripple effect
of positivity. A simple thank you can brighten
someone's day and remind them that they matter.
Now let's shift gears for a moment. Sometimes
life throws us a curveball. Jobs we didn't get.
Projects that didn't go as planned. Or paths
that suddenly veer off course. But what if I
told you that these failures might just guide
us to our true passion and joys? Think about
it. Every setback can be a setup for a comeback.
We often discover we're truly passionate about
when we confront obstacles head -on. Embrace
those moments. They can lead to unexpected adventures
and new beginnings. We live in a world that bombard
us with information. Emails to social media notifications
can feel overwhelming by decluttering our mental
spaces. We can create a sanctuary for our thoughts.
And that's what I was talking about earlier.
about putting our phones away, starting our day.
But let's take a moment to reflect. Think about
a challenge you're currently facing. How might
you find enjoying the situation? Is there a lesson
to learn or an opportunity for growth? Perhaps
there's a person you can reach out to or a way
to help others in similar circumstances. Imagine
a community where kindness is the norm. It starts
with each one of us. It can be as simple as checking
in on a neighbor or volunteering an hour of your
time. These small acts can lead to unexpected
connections and a deeper sense of belonging,
ultimately enhancing our personal well -being.
Remember, happiness is not a destination, it's
a journey. By embracing gratitude, we can navigate
life's ups and downs with sense of purpose and
positivity. It's incredible how a simple moment
of joy can turn your day around. It's a reminder
that happiness often comes in unexpected forms
and that sometimes we just need to be open to
it. I was reminded that even though these series
of events have happened to me, to take a moment,
slow down, and appreciate those around me more.
And that's what I want to encourage you to do
today. Stay open to joy. Let's embrace stillness
that, whether it's a smile from a stranger, a
compliment from a coworker, or a beautiful sunset
that takes your breath away. These are the moments
that make life richer. Take time each day to
pause, breathe, and let go of the noise. Whether
it's through meditation, journaling, or simply
taking a walk in your nature. Clearing your mind
can lead to unexpected contentment. You may find
that once you clear out the clutter, joy and
inspiration can flow in. Now I want to hear from
you. What unexpected, as always, have you experienced?
Please share your stories with me. You can reach
out through social media, LinkedIn bio. Let's
create a little community of joy together. As
we wrap up today's episode, I encourage each
of you to take a moment each day to acknowledge
something you're grateful for. You might be surprised
at how it transforms your outlook. This thing,
then I'll step off my soapbox. So let's remember
that happiness doesn't have to be found. in grand
moments. It's often hidden in the mundane, waiting
for us to uncover it. By finding laughter in
our daily routine, spreading kindness and embracing
our failures and decluttering our minds, we can
cultivate a life filled with joy and purpose.
Joy is all around us, waiting to be discovered.
It's in the small things, the serendipitous moments
that catch us off guard. Let's keep our hearts
and minds open to the experience. Thank you for
joining me today on today's episode of Unfiltered
Thoughts with Austin. I hope you feel motivated
to discover those unexpected joys in your life.
If you enjoyed this episode, please share it
with someone who could use a little boost of
joy. Don't forget to share your stories with
others, and if you'd like, let's keep this conversation
going by submitting your own personal stories
on my Instagram of when you... faced a challenge
in your life and how you encountered unexpected
joys and found happiness where you least expected
it. Join me for next week's episode where I will
share from your responses where you guys experienced
unexpected joys and found happiness where we
least expected it. Until then, stay mindful,
stay joyful, and remember to embrace the beauty
of the unexpected.