We live in the world of chaos, speed, immediacy. We always have many things to do and think about, but… When do we have time to stall? Many of us may respond that we rarely do it, or even question whether it is worth it, since we may consider it a waste of time.
I invite you to make one pause and reflect: When was the last time you really enjoyed a moment of quiet and reflection? Maybe you missed the pleasure of sipping hot coffee this morning? Or maybe you didn’t realize that comforting feeling of a ray of sunshine after a few days of rain? Were you aware that you went the whole day without drinking water, or can it even be difficult for you to remember what you ate yesterday?
These small signs usually become evident at the end of the day, when you finally sit down on the couch and consider that you can “switch off.” It is in these moments where we can pause minimally and take awareness of our sensations and emotions since, during the rest of the day, we live as if on “autopilot.” All of this goes completely unnoticed. And it’s a shame because we lose part of the enjoyment and “taste of life.”
The technique to savor life
And that is precisely the name of one of the techniques which has captured the attention of philosophers, psychologists and wellness enthusiasts in recent years, “the tasting”, whose term has been popularized by psychologists Fred Bryant and Joseph Veroff. This technique involves paying full attention and deeply appreciating the simple pleasures of life, amplifying the pleasant emotions and promoting gratitude and emotional well-being. There are some practices that can help us achieve this:
Let’s look at each of them:
Anticipate the pleasure: When planning a trip, for example, the excitement begins with the choice of the destination, the anticipation of the places to visit and the people to meet. Upon returning, memories, photos and souvenirs add to the enjoyment of the experience.
Savor the present moment: Focus on the current experience and enjoy it fully. This skill not only increases enjoyment in the moment, but also helps lock it into memory for more clear recall in the future.
Express your happiness: Share your feelings both with yourself and with others, this can increase your sense of well-being and connection with others.
Reflect on happy memories: Taking a moment each day to remember positive experiences can increase your overall satisfaction with life.
Numerous studies have tested the effects of savoring on mental health and emotional well-being, both in patients with depressive symptoms (Căzănescu, Tecuta, Cândea and Szentagotai-Tătar, 2019), in patients with cancer (Hou et al., 2017) or traumatic symptoms (Sytine, Britt, Pury and Rosopa, 2018), among others.
In conclusion, the tasting emerges as an accessible and powerful technique to improve our emotional well-being and promote a higher quality of life. So the next time you find yourself rushed or distracted, I encourage you to take a moment to savor life in its fullness.
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