She lives in Bliss

There’s a quiet kind of magic waiting for us in the everyday – if we’re willing to see it. It lives in the steam of a morning cup of coffee, the softness of sunlight on the floor, the first page of a fresh notebook, the ritual of putting on perfume – even when there’s nowhere to go that day.

This is the art of romanticizing your life.

Not in a way that denies the hard parts, or escapes reality with a filter of fantasy. But in a way that notices the beauty that already exists. It’s about choosing to live intentionally, to infuse your day with small pleasures and sensory rituals that reconnect you to yourself and the world around you.

In a world that constantly urges us to chase the next thing, romanticizing the present can sometimes feel uncomfortable. But the reality is, it’s a soft, soulful way of saying: This moment is enough. And so am I.

What It Means to Romanticize Your Life

To romanticize your life is to shift the way you see the ordinary. It’s not about pretending your life is perfect. It’s about taking note of what’s already beautiful, and leaning into it. It’s about creating joy on purpose, no matter your circumstances.

It doesn’t require wealth or extravagance, and it can so easily be found in tiny everyday choices:

• Drinking your tea from a cup you love
• Putting on a playlist that makes mundane tasks feel more fun
• Taking five slow breaths in between meetings
• Lighting a candle, even when it’s just you at the table

It’s a mindset shift from rushing through your life to actually being in it.

Create Cosy Morning Rituals

The way we begin our day shapes everything that follows. You don’t need an elaborate wellness routine or a perfectly curated sunrise to feel centred. Just a few simple, intentional moments can transform your morning from rushed and reactive into calm and rooted.

Start with your beverage ritual — tea, coffee, lemon water, or whatever brings you comfort. Choose your favourite mug. Pour the hot water with care, and take a few deep breaths as the steam rises. Stir slowly, with presence. Sip without checking your phone or scrolling through notifications. Let it be a moment of stillness rather than a stepping stone to something else.

If you’re drawn to journaling, spend a few quiet minutes reflecting. You might write a few things you’re grateful for, note how you want to feel that day, or jot down your “3 P’s” from the day before. It doesn’t have to be long or profound. It just has to be honest.

These rituals don’t require extra time — just extra intention. Even five minutes of gentle awareness can change the entire tone of your day.

Dress for Joy (Even If You’re Staying at Home)

We’ve been conditioned to reserve our “best” for special occasions. To save the luxurious robe, the signature scent, the good shoes — as if joy needs an external reason. I’ve done this for years, waiting for events, dinners, or holidays to wear the things that make me feel most like myself.

But what if we stopped saving beauty for later? What if today is the special occasion?

Romanticizing your life is about dressing for you — not for the meeting, the errands, or the validation. Whether it’s a dress that makes you feel alive, a soft oversized jumper that brings comfort, or a fresh pair of socks straight from the dryer, wear what makes you feel grounded, radiant, or simply you.

Spritz your favourite perfume, even if no one else will smell it. Add the earrings. Style your hair. Not because the world is watching, but because these small acts send a powerful message to yourself: I am worth showing up for, just as I am.

Romanticize Mundane Moments

So much of life happens in the quiet, in-between spaces — the laundry loads, the dishes, the skincare, the meal prepping. And while we often see these things as chores to power through, they’re also powerful opportunities for presence and peace.

Fold your laundry with care, as if you’re preparing a gift for future you. Light a candle while you cook or clean. Play music that uplifts you while you tidy the house, or open a window and let fresh air change the energy of your space.

Skincare doesn’t need to be about correcting flaws — it can be a way to gently return to your body after a long day. Massage in your cleanser like you’re offering yourself care, not critique. Let the water ground you.

When we stop rushing through these ordinary moments, they reveal their own kind of magic. You’re not just getting through the day — you’re living it, with tenderness and intention.

Let Your Senses Guide You

One of the most powerful ways to return to the present is through your senses. Bliss lives in the textures, the flavours, the sounds that surround you — if you take a moment to notice them.

Scent: Light a candle that makes you feel calm, diffuse essential oils that energise or ground you, or wear your favourite perfume even if you’re home alone. Smell is memory — and you can choose what kind of memories you create in your everyday space.

Touch: Wrap yourself in textures that comfort — a chunky knit blanket, your softest loungewear, warm socks fresh from the radiator. Take time to moisturise your skin slowly, like it’s an act of love. Let yourself feel held.

Taste: Eat without rushing. Taste your tea. Pause between bites. Even the most basic meals can feel luxurious when you allow yourself to fully experience them.

Sound: Create soundscapes for your mood. A gentle piano for focus. The music we used to party to for weekend tidying. Rain sounds for relaxation. Music is a subtle but powerful tool for emotional nourishment.

Sight: Let in natural light. Rearrange your space. Place something beautiful in your line of sight — flowers, a photo you love, or an object that brings joy. You deserve to be surrounded by things that lift you.

Your environment can be more than functional — it can be a source of daily care, crafted around what soothes and inspires you.

Curate an Evening Wind-Down You Look Forward To

Your evenings hold sacred potential — a gentle invitation to soften, to transition out of the “doing” and into simply being. Romanticising this time isn’t about elaborate routines — it’s about creating a pocket of stillness you look forward to returning to.

Dim the lights. Put on something soft. Make a warm drink in your favourite cup. Let the pace of the evening slow everything down. This is your time to let the nervous system settle — to downshift from productivity into presence.

Maybe you write a few lines in a journal, read a novel that soothes you, or do a few gentle stretches while listening to something calming. Maybe you simply sit, reflect, and breathe.

Let your night routine whisper: You did enough. You are enough. You are safe to rest now.

Even if it’s only ten minutes before bed, make it feel like a ritual — one that reminds you of your worth, your wholeness, and your need for rest just as much as productivity.

Romanticizing Life Isn’t Pretending – It’s Choosing

There’s a common misconception that romanticizing your life is a form of escapism — as if dressing with intention, or slowing down with a beautiful meal is about pretending things are perfect. But in truth, it’s not about avoiding reality at all. It’s about choosing to meet it more fully. It’s about being present with what is — and still deciding to seek softness where you can.

Romanticizing life is a way of grounding yourself in the now, of saying: this moment matters too.

You can acknowledge your stress and still savour your coffee.
You can face uncertainty and still wear the dress that makes you feel radiant.
You can hold grief and still pick wildflowers on your walk.

Because this isn’t about denying life’s challenges — it’s about not letting them eclipse the joy, the calm, and the connection that are still quietly available to you. Romanticizing life doesn’t mean pretending everything is okay. It means honouring that even within the mess, beauty can still exist. That softness is still a choice.

And in that choice, there’s power. There’s presence. There’s the quiet kind of bliss that sustains you — not by changing your life overnight, but by changing the way you see it, one moment at a time.

Bliss Lives in the Little Things

At She Lives in Bliss, I believe that beauty, wellness, and purpose aren’t reserved for big, life-changing moments — they’re woven gently into the fabric of our everyday. It’s the warm shower that soothes you after a long day, the book that feels like a friend, the quiet moment you glance up and notice the sky painted in colours you didn’t realise you needed. These aren’t grand gestures; they’re soft anchors. Gentle reminders that presence is powerful, and life doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful.

Bliss isn’t always a destination or a peak experience. More often, it’s found in the in-between — the exhale between tasks, the pause before you speak, the softness of a favourite shirt against your skin. It lives in the rituals that slow you down. In the cup of tea you brew with care. In the way you smooth your night cream on tenderly. In the decision to make a simple moment feel sacred, just because it matters to you.

So buy the pretty flowers. Wear the outfit that gives you a confidence boost. Light the scented candle at 10am if you want to. Use the good plates on a Tuesday night. Not because there’s a celebration or a guest to impress. But because you are the reason. Because your life deserves beauty and softness and intentionality — not someday, but now.

Let this be your permission slip: to romanticise the ordinary, to create rituals that honour your energy, and to live like bliss isn’t something to chase, but something you already hold within you.

With love,
Malissa x