The Key to Feeling More Pleasure in Your Body
The other day I was out walking in my favorite park. The fall leaves were blazing. The sun was shining on the water. It was perfection.
About two minutes into my walk, this woman behind me pulls out her phone and starts taking a work call. Really loudly.
I immediately start to panic. Then I get super irritated. Doesn’t this woman know my park walks are sacred? Doesn’t she know this is my me time? My moment to be reflective and peaceful and SERENE?!?!?
Then it hit me: Oh wait! This is actually a perfect opportunity for me to practice mindfulness! This is a chance for me to see if I can come back to the present moment and tune into myself and the beauty of this fall day. (Even with this lady talking ROI and fiscal deadlines at full volume behind me.)
I know mindfulness has become a sort of nebulous buzzword that we’re all supposed to be striving for somehow. But all it really means is returning to the present moment.
And y’all, it’s a buzzword for a reason. Mindfulness has so many benefits.
It helps promote a sense of calm if you’re feeling anxious.
It creates space for you to respond instead of react so you can make better decisions.
It helps you connect with your gratitude. (Instead of getting worked up about people being on their phones in public parks.)
It also helps you attune to what’s happening inside your body. To fully engage your five senses to take in the world around you. And to grow your capacity for pleasure within your body.
This is why mindfulness is especially helpful if you have a hard time being in your body or feeling sexual or sensual pleasure.
Yoga and meditation are obviously great for growing mindfulness.
But if that’s not your thing, here’s one simple thing you can do to connect with your body and improve your ability to feel sensual pleasure:
Take five or 10 minutes a day to notice the pleasure that’s already in your life. This can be over your lunch break. While you’re taking a short walk. While you’re cooking. While you’re engaging with a hobby.
Set a reminder on your phone if you need to. Or put a note on your desk.
Then just take a few minutes to notice the pleasure you’re feeling.
The sun warming your skin. The coziness of wearing your favorite sweater. The silkiness of a slice of pumpkin pie (a personal favorite). The brain tingles you get from listening to really good music.
Growing a mindfulness practice doesn’t have to be complicated. And it doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as taking five or ten minutes a day to consciously tune in to the things that bring you pleasure.
Because what you attend to grows.
Creating space to get in touch with your senses and be present builds the pleasure “muscle” that helps you experience more and more pleasure within your body.
XO,
Olaiya
