One way of creating a sense of well-being that is available to everyone is to feed the brain with uplifting, pleasurable thoughts and sensory experiences. It is through our senses that we learn to appreciate the beauty of the world around us, but too often, we ignore the potential pleasure that the senses can offer. Getting back in touch with the beauty of the world around us, but too often, we ignore the potential pleasure that the senses can offer. Getting back in touch.
Benefits Of Touch
Touch is vitally important to babies and children, yet as we get older, we often get out of the habit of touching and being touched. We do not always kiss our friends and loved ones in greeting or congratulations. We might neglect to offer a hug or touch on the arm to comfort someone in distress. Often, embarrassment, respect for people’s personal space or fear of being misunderstood holds people back from touching. Vet touching – of the non-sexual kind – between people can be relaxing and pleasurable. In one study, heart rates were lowered when volunteers were touched lightly on the wrist by a researcher.
Those who live alone and who do not exchange touches regularly should try to get into the habit of touching with friends and family. There are also some other simple and effective solutions. Investing in some form of regular massage – shiatsu, aromatherapy, or reflexology – offers the life-enhancing benefits of touch. If you have a pet, you will probably find that touching, stroking or talking to it lowers feelings of stress.
Visual Stimulation
Giving your eyes something pleasant to focus on enhances the quality of everyday life. In one experiment, people who were shown slides of attractive natural scenes reported higher levels of positive feelings, like friendliness and elation, than when they looked at drab urban scenes. If your office looks out over a car park, or the view from your living room is or a busy main road, try to position your seat so that you can see something natural, like a tree – and watch it change through the seasons. A few well-chosen pictures or posters can make the inside of your home or your office much more stimulating. Developing your garden, however small, can also be a source of visual pleasure. And you can bring nature into your home with flowers, plants and even pebbles. Walking in your local park or countryside is beneficial, too, and many studies have shown that exposure to sunlight improves mood.
Using Aromas
The smell is probably the most underrated of our senses. Humans can distinguish around 10,000 different odours – and because the part of the brain that analyses odours is intimately connected to emotional centres of the cortex, the smell can really affect the way we feel. For instance, peppermint has long been valued as an aid to clear thinking, and recent research suggests that a whiff of mint can motivate people before exercise. People often associate lavender with relaxation, but spiced apple has been proven to be even more effective at putting the brain into a relaxed mode. Aromas can distract the mind from dwelling on unpleasant thoughts. Smells can also evoke strong memories of positive emotions and happy events, helping us to relax and achieve beneficial physiological states like decreased heart rate or lowered blood pressure. Experiment with the aromas that you like – such as flowers and incense – and find ways of incorporating them into everyday life.
Enjoying Flavour
As most people know, food can be a regular source of pleasure and stimulation and not just a refuelling exercise. There is certainly no harm in treating yourself to some of your favourite foods every now and again. Food and drink can be a great pick-me-up – especially if you have the added satisfaction of having cooked a pleasing dish yourself. As recent changes in British eating habits suggest, curries and other spicy food are enjoyed by many people – chillies, peppers, and other spices produce a feeling of pleasurable sensory stimulation. Chocolate, Which is a favourite treat for many people, stimulates endorphins and serotonin production in the brain, which brings on feelings of contentment. Crisp, fresh textures will perk you up, while comforting carbohydrates will make you feel relaxed or sleepy. Whatever your favourite food, it should stimulate your taste buds, creating a sense of enjoyment.
Listening For Pleasure
Enjoying everyday sounds can enhance the quality of your life. Natural sounds, such as birdsong or a running stream, can have a soothing effect, as can distant voices or a child’s laughter. If you don’t have access to a local park or countryside, it is possible to purchase recordings of natural sounds, such as ocean waves, tropical rain, woodland and jungle noises, and rushing streams. Water fountain features for the garden, home or office can provide soothing background sounds all day. People also find the sound of a cat purring very relaxing – research has suggested that this is because cats purr at the same rhythm as alpha waves in the brain. Obviously, music is a great source of comfort, stimulation and energy. Making some time to listen to your favourite music each day can improve your quality of life with a minimum of effort.
