Most of the turning points in our life happened as a result of something that seemed insignificant at the time: a party where we met our true love, a workshop that introduced us to a new way of thinking, a summer job that got us started in our career direction, a trip that changed us in some way, a book that put us on a particular path. Life-changing experiences come out of what seem to be small and insignificant occurrences.

Most of the things that bring us the greatest satisfaction happen as a result of something small: a phone call, a meeting, finding out about something, seeing something. Life happens—it comes out of the flow—and the seemingly insignificant and ordinary moments are part of that. If we aren't paying attention to these small things and following our intuition about them—going to that party, taking that summer job, going on that trip, pursuing that interest that was sparked, finding out more about something—we might miss out on experiences that we would consider important and meaningful.

Small things matter for another reason. Often the only thing that's going on is something "small," and if we take our mind's word for it and see the ordinary moments of life as unimportant, extraneous, boring, or even wrong, we'll miss out on the opportunity for joy that they offer. When we give our attention fully to the ordinary things in life—drying our hair, walking the dog, going to the store, driving somewhere—we discover the extraordinary in them. We discover that ordinary moments have the same potential for happiness as extraordinary ones.

The extraordinary moments—when our child is born, when we land our dream job, when we fall in love, our wedding day—are rare and quickly fade. The elation of those moments can't be sustained. But right here and now, in this moment, it's possible to be content with whatever's happening simply by giving it your full attention. When you become lost in whatever you are doing, you feel content, at peace, and whatever you are doing becomes a source of beauty and gratitude.

The real miracle of life is that every moment is just as precious and has just as much potential for happiness as every other moment. Experiencing this happiness is largely a matter of recognizing this great truth. The mind discounts most moments, and that discounting prevents us from discovering the potential happiness in some small act or experience. The belief that something doesn't matter and can't make us happy is a self-fulfilling prophecy: When you believe that only some moments are good and valuable, then that becomes your experience. If you know the truth, however, that ordinary moments are equally valuable, then gratitude and the realization of the preciousness of life become your experience.

The truth is that life—every moment—is precious, sacred, and when we are aligned with that truth, we are happy and at peace with life. When we aren't, we are at war with life, which is the state of ego identification, identification with the voice in our head. The difference between being happy and at peace with life and not being happy and not at peace is often just a matter of how we view this moment. Does this moment seem unimportant, like something you're just getting through to get to some other moment? Or is it something to savor, like the most wonderful chocolate, like a sunny Sunday morning, like sitting by a sparkling seaside? What if you brought the same attention you bring to extraordinary moments to the more ordinary moments of life?

The difference between being happy and not being happy is not in what you are experiencing, but in the amount of attention and the attitude of preciousness you bring to any moment. It only seems like what you are experiencing is the cause of happiness. But happiness is our natural state and not caused by anything. This happiness is only obscured by the belief that something isn't worthy of our attention and gratitude. When we give anything our attention and gratitude, we experience happiness in that moment.

Try this out yourself: The next time you are feeding your dog, watering your plants, putting the clothes in the washing machine, going to the mailbox, or doing any of the many things you do regularly, get really involved in it, consider it a sacred act, notice anything of beauty about it, recognize the miracle of life that is capable of doing these things, and acknowledge your gratitude for being able to have the experience you are having.