February is known as the month of Love - and Valentine's Day is closely approaching on February 14. However, in this era of texting and e-mail, experiencing love and life through all your senses seems to be getting lost.
Our jobs and household chores take up much of our waking hours, and the challenge is to find ways to manage daily stress and replace it with authentic sensual living.
Dr. Charlyn Belluzzo reveals that uncovering our sensuality -- the rich world of the senses, sight, sound, smell, taste touch and intuition - can influence our moods and counteract stress.
She says the goal is to live in the moment, so any worries you may have can be better managed. Living sensually is all about embracing the moment and reconnecting with life. What she means by "sensual" is taking pleasure in the senses- using touch, taste, sound, smell and your own intuition to fully experience life and the world around you. Your senses trigger your emotions and your emotions frame your thoughts- so the senses are the beginning of a powerful and important process.
How we clear out the mental clutter and eliminate stress:
There are two main reasons we lose touch with our senses and become stressed and overwhelmed. The first is emotional unbalance, which can happen to anyone regardless of age or circumstance. We don't even know it is happening but slowly this creates a loss of joy in our lives. The second comes from what she calls "Universal Detachment."
Technology is a double edged-sword, it helps us in many ways, but we're also bombarded with information coming at us so fast, that sometimes we literally shut down and create a safe zone by becoming detached- which is a survival mechanism. Being detached in certain instances is helpful, but living in a state of detachment robs us of the richness of life.
3 Ways in which we can reorder our lives:
- Clear your mind and approach tough problems by Focusing on Reality:
The past is now beyond your control, the future is out of your grasp. Reality is in the moment. Look at your life as if you were looking into a mirror.
Detach enough to see the big picture of what is going on. Ask yourself -- Are you engaging in the "scene" in a way that helps you get the outcome you want?
- Purposefully design your surroundings to please your senses:
Use colors, textures and elements from nature that feel uplifting to you. Everyone is different. Spaces you spend time in can be rejuvenating or draining depending on the effect they have on your senses.
- Dress like you mean it:
We all know that we feel more confident and project a better image when we are dressed well. I'm not saying get fancy -- you can be comfortable, but add a splash of color with a scarf.
Dab on some perfume, scent is a very powerful tool to elevate mood. Take the few extra seconds to put on some jewelry or lipstick and wear something unique that expresses your personality.
