Savoring - a tool to increase well-being

Savoring is one of the tools that is brought by Positive Psychology and is defined as attending, appreciating, and enhancing positive experiences that occur in one’s life. The experiences can be external or internal.

We might be practicing savoring under a different name and it can really be in relation to many things in life - not only experiences or accomplishments which would be most obvious.

I do not wish to focus so much on "how to do it" or "how long" but i would invite to think about it as t can reveal much about your life and perhaps how it could be improved. Savoring can bring about many questions:

1. Do you take a moment to be fully present and feel delight about something?

2. How often do you feel like on a given day you gave it your best and are genuinely satisfied with your work?

3. When someone mentions something good about accomplishing something, do you find yourself saying "yes but we could have also done this and that"?

I have felt many times in my life that I together with someone have completed something and put in a big effort. I especially remember works around our countryhouse and farm (always something to do!). I also remember no one ever being happy about things completed - I learned that there was always something else that needs to be done as well. Sound familiar? Our environment is strong and we have many learned behaviours from the past that we are still carrying around with us.

Nowadays I get the feeling everyone is always doing something, posting about it etc and taking time off means you are not fulfilling your potential. Admittedly, these things change over the years and perhaps savouring is something that enters one's life more in midlife?

Inability to really take the time to be delighted about your life can also mean you are doing too many things or wrong things. How many times have we heard that "well if X happens then i am finally able to slow things down". In my experience that is not the case.

So i think exploring this topic can reveal much. As a final thought I encourage to savour more and also feel boredom. Boredom is the time when new insights have a chance to arise. So savour also the time when you are bored and see what happens.

If there is a personal development topic you would like to discuss send me a message or email me laatsingmar@gmail.com. I hold a diploma in positive psychology coaching and love exploring everything related to meaning, purpose and change.