How often do you actually savor things? Not just scroll past them or check them off your to-do list, but really soak up the good stuff? From your first sip of morning coffee to a quiet moment after a busy holiday, savoring can be a superpower.
A post on the Center for Creative Leadership blog says that savoring — simply taking in good things — can boost your happiness and help you lead better. Want to savor the last few days of the year? Read on. We share some savoring strategies from the Center for Creative Leadership in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
Bask in happy moments. The post recommends being present in the moment. However, unlike mindfulness, which emphasizes detached observation, savoring involves actively seeking out and soaking in the positive emotions using your 5 senses. Try selecting a few specific moments or events you plan to savor in the next few days. Then, take in the enjoyable sensory, emotional and relational aspects of the experience and hold on to them for as long as you can.
Wear your joy on your sleeve. Go ahead and smile, hug, laugh, jump for joy, give a high five. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, we typically think of our physical reactions as simply the result of our emotions. However, science suggests the chain reaction goes both ways — smiling actually makes us feel happier, while hunching our shoulders and crossing our arms can make us feel more upset.
Engage in positive mental time travel. Daydream a little. Think back to a positive moment from the past year or something positive you anticipate in the future. Studies show that vividly reminiscing over positive experiences in the past and eagerly anticipating future joyful occasions can boost your happiness levels.
Share your gratitude with others. You can do the first 3 savoring strategies on your own, but this one requires some connection. The Center for Creative Leadership post points out that sharing positive events with others is a great way to further amplify and savor the good things in your life. This strategy works best when you share with someone you’re close to and when that someone is likely to mirror back your positive emotions.
Savoring is worth it. It lowers your stress and can make you a happier, sharper promo pro. Try revisiting some of your past successes and sharing a little gratitude with your co-workers. Come January, you’ll feel more focused, recharged and maybe even a little more lighthearted.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: A blog post from the Center for Creative Leadership.
