Finding delight with Sara Duigou
How a grounding practice like ‘Taking in the Good’ can help us stay centred + savour the tiny instants
Amid busyness, it’s easy to lose sight of the here and now. The pressure to keep on keeping on is all too real, but there’s beauty in slowing down, in staying grounded, and in being fully present.
When life pulls me in different directions, it helps to have tools that allow me to centre myself, and remind me that there is always space to find peace.
I’m now one-third of the way through my Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for the Brand Seasons® Playdeck, and embarking on this new (to me!) way of bringing something into the world was always going to feel stretchy. The key has been to make sure that stretchy doesn’t become stressy.
That inner voice of doubt—the one that questions, hesitates and sometimes overpowers—has kept me on my toes. It’s one of the reasons I invited Somatic Coach and Embodiment Practitioner
back, following our recent podcast conversation about staying buoyant, to share one of my favourite practices with you.
If you missed the episode, it’s worth taking the time to listen. We explored the Season of Grounding, the seven types of rest, and how important it is to honour our natural rhythms, both in life and work.
The conversation left me more aware of how to welcome calm without losing momentum. And it reminded me that ‘ease’ isn’t always easy to achieve. We must make choices, sometimes hard ones, to protect our peace.
Sara’s work centres around helping us create the capacity for rest and play, and cultivate a supportive and sustainable life. Taking in the Good might be just what your nervous system needs today. I hope you enjoy it.
Practice: Taking in the Good
with Sara Duigou
Today I’m sharing a practice that’s been a cornerstone of my exploration into how we can rebalance the mind's pull to negativity under stress and instead move to a more positive outlook: Taking in the Good.
This practice is not entirely my own but rather a fusion of two cherished books: The Book of Delights by Ross Gay and Hardwiring Happiness by Rick Hanson.
The Book of Delights is a collection of poetic essays that guide you through the seemingly small but deeply beautiful moments in life. It’s a heartfelt journey into everyday magic. I was first introduced to Ross Gay through the This American Life podcast, specifically the episode ‘The Show of Delights’—a delightful listen in itself.
Hardwiring Happiness takes a more scientific approach, focusing on the neuroscience behind how we can condition our brains to notice and absorb positive moments.
If the idea of another book on positive thinking makes you sceptical, I promise this one isn’t filled with empty platitudes. Rick Hanson delves intelligently into how everyday positive moments can reshape our brain for greater well-being.
Often, joyful moments pass us by, overshadowed by our brain's natural negativity bias. Hanson suggests that not only should we be more aware of these moments, but we should also savour them, allowing positive experiences to sink in and rewire our brains.
Here’s how you can try it yourself:
Have the experience: Notice something positive or pleasant in your present experience no matter how small. It could be something that brings you joy, the comfort of your chair, the warmth of your tea or a memory of someone you love.
Enrich it: Stay with the experience for a little longer than usual. Let the positive feelings fill your body and mind. Notice if it changes your posture, facial expression or mood. Allow the feeling to deepen by focusing on what makes it feel special.
Absorb it: Let the moment sink in. Imagine the experience becoming part of you, anchoring itself into your memory, allowing it to settle in your bones.
I encourage you to explore Taking in the Good as much as you like, whether during a quiet moment in the morning or as you reflect before bed.
It feels important to say that practices that guide us to positivity aren’t meant to wash away the problems of the world. Taking in the Good isn’t about ignoring the tough times or forcing ourselves into happiness. But by taking time to notice and be present with the small and fleeting good moments we begin to bring more awareness of them in our days.
Setting our compass towards more positive experience also helps us to anchor into resource and when we can create more resource within and around us we access a place where we can nurture our capacity for growth and healing.
I'd love to learn about your own simple delights! Here are a few of mine that I’ve taken time to savour recently:
The feeling of cold autumn air on my cheeks during my morning walk.
The joy on my youngest son’s face (and mine!) as he devoured cakes with hidden vegetables
Sipping tea from a new, perfectly-sized mug
Maybe together, we can start a movement of delight and encourage each other to find more joy in the everyday.
Sara’s words are such a balm, and I’m glad I made space for this practice today, which looked like a walk around Melrose, the town where my studio is based, with a warming hot chocolate in hand. It's one of those bright autumn days where you can notice the season turning, and the perfect weather for inhaling the calm and exhaling the angst.
In her coaching practice, Sara helps her clients come home to themselves and trust in their bodies. You can find Sara right here on Substack at , a space for exploring and understanding how we can be alongside our beautiful humanness.
Where do you find beauty in your days? I love Sara’s idea of starting a movement of delight. Because even amidst the busyness, small joys are always within reach.
Support my Kickstarter and bring the Brand Seasons® Playdeck to life.
A card deck with 48 prompts + practices to help you craft a brand strategy, style + story with substance, and approach business in a more seasonal and sustainable way. Will you make this pocket-sized source of wisdom and guidance your own?
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