The Mental Strength of Savoring

Our brains developed a negativity bias to keep us safe and alive.  We notice and dwell on threats more than sources of pleasure.  As a result, we tend to focus on negative aspects of our days more than positive.  One way to increase our mental strength is to practice savoring the positive parts of our life.

Savoring increases what psychologists call reward sensitivity by honing our capacity to relish good experiences.  Increasing our reward sensitivity is a skill where we train ourselves to be more cognizant of positive emotions and events.

Takeaway:  Savoring increases our capacity for joy by enhancing our reward sensitivity.  Savoring practices include:

• Happy Planning: Plan one activity a day that will make you happy or give you a sense of accomplishment.

• Glimmers: Notice small instances of joy and take a mental photograph of the little things that delight you.

• Lose Yourself: Also called Flow, allow yourself to become totally absorbed or engrossed in the moment or experience.  Be present, on the spot, in totality.

• Highlights Reel: Reflect on your happy activities or pleasures later in the day.

• Savory Vocabulary: Think of sumptuous ways to describe your happy activities, such as delighted, elated, or inspired.

• Time Flies: Recall how quickly time flies, and consider what you want to pay attention to.

Well-being is a journey, not a quick fix.

The Legal Brain: A Lawyer’s Guide to Well-being and Better Job Performance, is available at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Sources

Jenny Taitz, Want to Feel Happier? Here’s How to Cultivate Positive Emotions. - The New York Times, Aug. 19, 2024.

Stacey Kennelly, 10 Steps to Savoring the Good Things in Life, July 23, 2012.

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