Do you know how to seize and savor pleasure?

Do you know how to seize and savor pleasure? Like many, you may have an easier time fretting and worrying. No blame. Evolution programmed us to pay particular attention to trouble and danger…but indulging pleasure…not so much. Our technological age further complicates pleasure seeking as thrills beckon and instant gratification is gone in a flash. Thrills are a sympathetic nervous system experience which land like stress and contraction…pleasure is a parasympathetic experience which lands like soothing and expansion. What’s challenging is that pleasure requires slowing down, being in your body, staying present in the moment…not easy with our fast-paced ethos.

Here’s the tip: First, check how you respond to the very word pleasure. You may notice a subtle shudder of shame or fear. Understandable if so…our culture has been pervaded by anti-pleasure dogma for millennia. This means if you want to throw down for pleasure, you’ll need to consciously seize and cultivate such experiences. Look for feel good body experiences at least once a day…a cool shower, a warm bath, a gentle breeze, sweet and scrumptious smells and tastes, a tender touch, a joyous laugh, a loving gaze. Once you come upon them…make a choice to slow down and immerse yourself for a moment or two…or as long as possible. Brake for pleasure. Breathe. Savor. Relax.

You no longer have to be afraid of pleasure. It’s good for your immune system, nervous system, endocrine system, brain, heart and soul. Every time you choose to stop and drop into a moment of feeling good, you are generating new neural pathways…and co-creating a transformational human experience. Enjoy!