How to further enjoy the pleasures of life?
In “The Power of the Small Things”, neuropsychologist Rick Hanson offers simple exercises to nourish and reveal the best in you. Here’s how to enjoy the pleasures of life and watch it transform.
When savouring the pleasures of life, don’t reject the difficult or painful times. One simply opens the sweetness available around them. The soothing pleasure wing of the parasympathetic system activates to calm the combat or flight response of the sympathetic system.
Enjoy the pleasures of everyday life by first turning towards your senses:
• What feels right? It could be the skin of an orange, smoke from a wood fire, a simmering dish, brushing the hair of a child…
• What tastes good? Strong coffee, light tea, toast – chocolate! – a salad, goat cheese…
• What’s beautiful to you? The sunrise, the sunset, a full moon, a sleeping baby, red leaves in autumn, images of galaxies, freshly fallen snow…
• What sounds delight you? The waves on the shore, the wind in the pines, the laughter of a dear friend, Ode to Joy by Beethoven, complete silence…
• What’s good against your skin? Clean sheets, scratching your back, warm water, a cool breeze on a sweltering day…
Then include what’s on your mind: what memories or thoughts give you pleasure? For example, consider one of your favorite places – a meadow in the mountains, a tropical beach, a comfortable lounge chair – and imagine yourself there.
Finally, enjoy these pleasures. Immerse yourself in them, spend time with them and let them fill your body and your mind. Revel in the fun! Dismiss any reluctance to feel good, or anything that makes you think it’s stupid or bad…if you can, let go. Then fall back into the beautiful pleasure of things.
Have fun!
Text from the book The Power of Small Things: 52 simple exercises to change your life by Rick Hanson, published by Pocket editions and Bullring.
Fabienne Broucaret and Nur Syazana H.
