What brings you pleasure?
When you sink into negativity...
When we feel overwhelmed by events and can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, we tend to sink into a bottomless pit of negativity... has this ever happened to you?
How do we get out of the impasse?
How can we regain our moments of pleasure and our joy of living?
Listening to a friend's advice
During my first sabbatical, when I was feeling a little lost about my future, I remember a friend suggesting that I get back in touch with activities I enjoyed when I was younger.
The first thing that popped into my head was to make puzzles!
And reconnecting with our childhood's pleasures
That's what I did when I got home: I went to my parents' house to get some and spent hours reconnecting with that childhood pleasure!
In fact, I lost track of time as I was so absorbed and focused on my puzzle pieces!
Once I'd finished them, I went on to find new ones... until I'd satisfied my thirst for puzzles!
Pleasure: a habit to be rediscovered
This return to these childhood pleasures made me realize just how much we can lose the habit of enjoying doing little activities as innocuous as puzzles!
The burden of our daily tasks
Our days are filled with tasks, some heavier than others, whether for personal and/or professional purposes, and we forget the importance, even the necessity, of having fun for our health!
Including small pleasures in our day
Sometimes we're so blinded by the goal we want to achieve that we forget that the road to get there may well be strewn with small pleasures!
Find the little pleasures that will make you feel good and put a smile on your face as you go about your day!
The health benefits of pleasure
Pleasure has significant positive effects on our health! In particular, pleasure :
Allows our body to release endorphins (hormones that give us a feeling of well-being, like after intense physical effort)
Protects us from the harmful effects of stress
Strengthens and regulates our immune system
Improves our mood
Pleasure vs. distraction: an important distinction
But it's important to distinguish between what gives us pleasure and what is a distraction (like watching TV or playing video games)!
While pleasure allows us to feel fully present, alive and aware in the moment, distraction does just the opposite! It makes us forget to be in the present moment!
That said, there is a time and a place for distraction, but it shouldn't replace moments of pleasure!
Now it's your turn!
What do you enjoy doing? What activities did you enjoy as a child?
A few ideas to bring pleasure back into our lives!
Listen to music
Playing a musical instrument
Sing
See a comedy show
Dance
Doing yoga
Giving your children or lover a hug
Volunteering
Having a pet and spending time with it
An activity in the great outdoors
Coffee with a friend
Exchanging / chatting with friends
Need a helping hand?
Coaching and visualization exercises can be interesting tools to help you bring pleasure back into your life! Don't hesitate to contact me if you're interested!
The first introductory session is free!
