Do you ever stop to take in the fresh smell of the ocean breeze or your mother’s homemade cooking? With busy schedules and long to-do lists, many of us don’t realize we aren’t “savoring the good things in life.” Savoring is being aware of your feelings and fully enjoying positive experiences. This awareness and enjoyment has the ability to increase our happiness, both short-term and long-term. It is about taking the time to be mindfully engaged in what you are experiencing. The good thing is there are ways we can develop this skill, such as:
- Sharing your good feelings with others
- Taking a mental photograph
- Congratulating yourself
- Getting in touch with your senses (e.g. notice the wind in your hair, the smell of your coffee, etc.)
- Being expressive (e.g. smile, laugh, throw your hands in the air, etc.)
- And more!
For examples of each, read more here
Some tips to help you and your family enjoy the moment a bit more:
Step #1: Think.
- What have been some of your favorite moments this past year? Think back on one moment, the people, smells, sounds, physical sensations, and sights that you experienced.
- Write, draw, or talk about it with a loved one.
- Did you take the time to really enjoy the moment?
- If not, what will you do to enjoy future positive experiences?
Step #2: Explore.
To further learn how to “savor the moment,” it’s important to incorporate “mindful” moments throughout your day. Being “mindful” means to be “aware” and notice your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and anything that is happening around you in that very moment. Explore and choose one of the following experiences to do with your child:
- Go on a “noticing walk” – notice things you haven’t seen before, and take one minute to be completely silent and pay attention to all the different sounds – what do you hear?
- Try the SpiderMan Meditation
- Sitting Still Like A Frog video or Breathing Butterfly in Spanish
- For more ideas, click here
Step #3: Express.
- What positive emotion did you feel? You and your child can Choose one from this list
- Optional – draw a picture of your experience or write down your positive thoughts
- Even if your happiness level increased just a bit, that is progress!
