Savoring Sensations

Yesterday, while preparing a plant based feast for my family, I set an intention to practice mindful presence. I chose not to listen to music or a podcast, not to get lost in thought, but instead to immerse myself in the sounds, the smells, and the sensations of cooking our meal.  

I let myself experience the rounded smoothness of fresh cranberries as I rinsed them under cold water, appreciating their vibrant crimson color.  I made a conscious effort to practice presence as I measured and poured maple syrup, zested and juiced a navel orange, and inhaled the citrus scent on my fingertips.  I watched the cranberries pop as they simmered, and savored the tart sweetness on my tongue as I tasted a spoonful of the jewel toned sauce. 

I tried to cultivate gratitude for the plants themselves, for the curly green kale and Yukon gold potatoes, the acorn squashes and cremini mushrooms, the giant cloves of garlic with their papery thin skins.  

I poured love and positive intention into each dish, hoping that my loved ones would feel nourished and cared for with each flavorful bite.  

There is so much richness in every moment.  So much depth and dimensionality to experience through our senses, through our existence.  

The trait of high sensitivity means an even greater capacity to experience this richness.  Research has shown that areas of the brain associated with deeper processing of information are more active in HSPs. This means that HSPs are highly attuned to subtleties and have the capacity to experience simple pleasures with greater depth.

Try to practice moments of presence as you go about engaging in the minutiae  of your everyday life.  When we practice presence, we come back to our bodies, come back to ourselves, and live fuller, more meaningful lives. 

Previous
Previous

Three strategies for navigating the holidays as a highly sensitive person

Next
Next

Not every morning is blissful