MIND-BODY-SPIRIT
Rediscovering Pleasure... ...continued from page 63
traumatic and scary experiences get “absorbed” by our brains almost instantly, while positive ones take a while to “download and install” into our neural structure. How long is “a while”? According to Rick Hanson, a neuropsychologist and a mindfulness teacher, it takes about 12 seconds for the enjoyable experience to “go in”. When you stop to smell a literal or metaphorical rose, use the 12 seconds rule — by prolonging your pleasure you increase your brain’s “pleasure ab - sorption rate”. Amplify Your Pleasures You can increase the potency of experience to make it more likely to absorb. Close your eyes if you are smelling or tasting something you like. Increased duration and potency of a positive experience doesn’t just make it feel more enjoyable — it also sensitizes your system, so the next time you encounter something enjoyable, your “pleasure thresh- old” will be lower. Refine Your Pleasure Palate Just like professional chefs are able to distinguish subtleties of texture and flavor, we can all deepen our sensitivity to pleasure by practicing. Take in all the different shades of green as you are taking a walk. What are the sounds you hear? Step on the sidewalk, on the mulched area, on a patch of soft grass — what does it feel like under your feet? Before virtual therapy became the norm, I took my clients on “mindful walks”. Inevitably, tuning into the subtleties of their sen- sory experiences made people feel calmer and happier, more in touch with themselves, less preoccupied with their daily challenges. Share Your Pleasures (Find pleasure positive friends) Cultivate pro-pleasure friends, communities and mentors. We are social beings — our nervous systems attune to each other’s energy, mood and body language. Do people who surround you support and rejoice in each other’s pleasure? Or do they continuously engage in a “who’s busier and more stressed” contest? If your interest in cultivating pleasure makes your friends uncomfort- able, finding a pleasure-positive community can help. Depending on your interests and comfort, dancing and hobby groups, outdoor meet- ups, creative hangouts, slow food events, and communities devoted to sensual exploration can create just the right context for your next pleasure-filled adventure. Elena Khazanova is a Holistic Psychotherapist, Life Coach, and Facilitator. www. GrowWithEase.com; 240-215-5526.
Our greatest teacher is our living body. The inherent wisdom and joy that resides within knows exactly what we need to be healthy, joyful and our own best friend. Take the time to listen.
Transformational Coaching Body Work
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NEW FUTURE SOCIETY CENTER
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at The Retreat Center We’re putting the finishing touches on a safe and flexible meeting space for up to 20 people. Creative productivity thrives in this peaceful, wooded setting near National Harbor, with in-person gatherings beginning April 2022! Visit storyweaving.com/retreat-center
64—PATHWAYS—Spring 23
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