Last week I went to hear a lecture on Positive Psychology. Its had me thinking ever since. The thought is that being happy takes a concious effort, its not about trying to avoid pain or difficulty but rather choosing to have a subjective well being, that include optimism, happiness, and self determination.
One of the principles was about Savoring, I have decided Savoring is going to be my new word , deed and action . Particularly with the holidays approaching. I have been ruminating about a lack of.... money, food storage, time, desire, and hope in general. After all the media is consumed with the negative. In fact There are also historical reasons for psychology's negative focus. When cultures face military threat, shortages of goods, poverty, or instability, they may most naturally be concerned with defense and damage control. Cultures may turn their attention to creativity, virtue, and the highest qualities in life only when they are stable, prosperous and at peace.
Im going to invite my family to join me in choosing our subjective well being. I like the word savor : to take pleasure, enjoy or delight in________. You feel in the blank. we dont have to spend our time in fixing what is wrong we can identify and nurture strenghts in our children, we can be satisfied with a days work, desire a joy filled hour of house cleaning, we can relish a cup of hot chocolate, we can prize the morning sunshine, revere a good neighbor.We can admire God himself in and beyond his gifts. As John Piper said.
Anyway I want to describe such a moment. Last week Kate just showed up in the middle of the week. It may have something to do with tacos. She did laundry and was waiting for it to dry. We were alone in the living room everyone else had gone to bed. I sat next to her on the couch so she could show me an art website she liked. We listened to soft and stirring music , thaat I was surprised she liked. She took my hand and held it laced in hers while we looked at art and quietly chose pieces we liked best. I was taking great pleasure and delighting in every moment .All these things were forms of Savoring. Savoring is defined as any thoughts or behaviors capable of generating, intensifying, and prolonging enjoyment. In other words, savoring is a way to access and prolong positive emotions. So Im choosing to still savor that particular moment.
A Dr. Fred Bryant (who coined the term “savoring”) says that savoring can take three forms related to the timing of the thing being savored. Some like to savor the past through reminiscing, others savor the future through the anticipation of things to come, and others enjoy just being in the present. Through his research, Dr. Bryant has also confirmed that savoring is very beneficial and healthy. Those who regularly and frequently savor are happier and more satisfied with life in general, they are more optimistic, and they are less depressed.
I guess the question we can ask is......... "What makes one moment better than another?"
I want to hear what simple things you are savoring
