Paying attention to your senses can literally change your mood, when all of our basic sensual needs are being met, it literally clears mental space and leaves room for the good stuff to enter.
Every negative thought or feeling takes your attention away and distracts you from good feelings, so it's important we distract ourselves back to the good stuff.
The following points can be applied to anything, from choosing dish soap (yes, really I chose a color and smell that makes me smile and want to sniff it in a bottle I would happily display as an ornament !), decorating your lounge to choosing a house or outfit or meal, the more you check in with things meeting your personal criteria of improving mood busters, the better you will get at getting to know what effects your environment can have on your senses and begin to use it to consistently feel good. It's that simple.
Visual: Is it pleasing to the eye, are there a range of colors or is it one uniform color or pattern? Which do you prefer, what can you change, have more of or less of to make it more visually pleasing?
Taste: Is it exciting, fresh, crisp , rich or clean? Are there a range of textures and flavors, how does it make you feel? Comforted or energized, bloated or full or satisfied, how do you want to feel? Would this make you feel that?
Touch: How does it feel? Is it soft, smooth or cool? Does it give warmth, does it pinch or catch, is it scratchy?
Try this: Go to a bed linen store and touch everything. Silk, feather pillows and velvet cushions, familiarize yourself with different sensations and measure how different things make you feel. Do the same in a garden centre, look a the flowers, smell them, and see how they compliment each other, expose yourself to as much variety as possible and see what you are drawn to and incorporate it into your life.
Smell: Smell and fragrance can invoke powerful memories and emotions; we can be transported back to our first kiss, a romantic holiday, the day our child was born or school dinners. How many items in our home have a fragrance and how could they all work towards encouraging you to feel better? Moisturizer, bubble bath, candles, dish soap, your own soap, the inside of your car. Don't just reach for the cheapest option or whatever is on offer; chose something that will energize or relax you, soothe and calm you. Why do you think Febreeze sells so well?!
Sounds: The power of music is a no-brainer, from lullabies to wedding songs, music can lift you up, energize you and transport you back to precious memories at the drop of a hat. Classical music can move you to tears and a good dance track can prepare you for and extend your workout. But what about other noises, have you ever noticed all the different sounds around you? How they can distract you from and even drown out your thoughts?
This is not about material things and collecting stuff, it's about appreciating what you have, making choices based on your feelings and making the most of what is available to you.
Imagine only eating foods that excite you and leave you feeling good. Imagine having a massive clear out of your wardrobe and loving every item of clothing you own.
This is about improving how you feel now, and a collections of nows, is your life!
Have a great day, one second at a time.