In the animated movie, Soul, music teacher, Joe Gardner, is experiencing life after death without the benefit of a body. He recalls “The joys of life like…Pizza!” Then realizes that without his sensory body (his ability to see, taste, smell, hear, feel) he is unable to enjoy life as before. He’s just a numb bystander watching but not participating in the experience of being alive.
Watching this movie, it struck me that I am also like Joe Gardner. Most days, I find my mind is running the show. Yet I know that connecting to my body is the only way for me to actually “feel” the full experience of being alive. Can you relate? Let’s explore this disconnect a little further.
We experience our lives through the gateway of our senses.
You’ve known about them since your earliest years. The Big Five: Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Tasting, Feeling. They are so common to everyday experience that we sometimes forget them. Yet our senses drive our lives. They give us important survival clues and infuse every waking moment with vivid sensory encounters that deepen and expand our experience of the world. Sensory Experience has two broad levels.
- Sensation: The physical act of receiving stimulus in the body
- Perception: Integration of the messages in the mind. Literally, making meaning from what happens.
We may move through the first level quickly, forging on to the mental stage of information, judgement, and preference. This quick switch is an important survival skill, but it can also take us out of the “now” of our lives. The present moment can only be accessed through sensory clues.
I lead a Positive Journal Method class at my local botanical garden. We start each class the same way, by walking through the natural beauty of the sunny flowerbeds, taking time to notice and savor all the colors and aromas. Literally, we stop and smell the roses. Only after we get out of our hectic, daily brainwork and wake up to the natural beauty of the garden do we reflect and write.
The Benefits of Sharpening our Sensory Focus
- Expands our Perspective
Acknowledging the rich banquet of sights, sound and smells that are around us opens us to new ideas and possibilities. A walk in nature can provide fresh inspiration and creative solutions. - Inspires Gratitude
When we savor a delicious meal, see the giggling smile of a child, sit by the warmth of a campfire, or smell the summertime aroma of freshly cut grass, we are reminded of the many blessings of life. Like our movie hero in “Soul”, we feel joy of being alive when we come back to the delight of our senses. - Elevates the Familiar
When we power through life on task-focused autopilot, we miss so many of the simple pleasures that are readily available to enrich our day-to-day. Taking a sensory time out is an inexpensive and easy way to feel the abundant riches of life. We may find a whole world of glorious-yet-simple delights all around, just waiting to be noticed.
Sensory Experience and Positive Journaling Go Hand in Hand
The practice of Positive Journaling helps us to remember our most nourishing experiences and emotions that are often are overshadowed by our brain’s addiction to problem solving. By seeing reflective journaling practice through the lens of positive emotions, we can rebalance and reconnect with a state of mind that can not only heal, but can also inspire us to see our strengths and find solutions.
We live in an environment that is oversaturated with sensory stimulation. Sometimes, it feels easier to tune out than tune in. But we always have a choice where our attention goes. The more we choose to unplug and focus on the simple beauty that is right in front of of us, the more beauty we will ultimately see.
Ellen Bell a certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher with a specialty in the practice of positive journaling for wellness. Find out more about Ellen.