In one day, the average person receives 50 emails and is exposed to 16,000 advertisements, logos, and labels. We're drowning in information and stimulation. As a result, you can spend most of the day sorting through messages, responding to voicemails, and answering phone calls.
And with advances in technology, the situation's only getting worse. Do you remember what you did a week ago Tuesday? Do you remember what you did three weeks ago Monday? It's all a big blur, isn't it? The roaring rapids we call modern life make it hard to carve out even one daily moment of meaning, beauty, and appreciation.
If someone were to tell you when you wake up, "Today will be a normal day, but you'll never remember it," I doubt you'd be very inspired. But if someone were to say, "Today will be a normal day, but a lovely moment will take place that you will remember forever," that would make you hop out of bed with a bit more enthusiasm, wouldn't it?
And you absolutely can create a lovely moment every single day of your life. By utilizing your five senses, the simplest moments can become some of your greatest memories.
Here are five tips on how your five senses can help you overcome life's chaos and carve out a daily moment of meaning, beauty, and appreciation:
1. Scent
"The emotional power of smell-triggered memory has an intensity unequaled by sight- and sound-triggered ones." -Rachel Herz
Scent is the most powerful of all the senses. Signals from your nose go directly to the part of your brain that regulates emotions. Thus, scent creates a very immediate emotional response. When reacting to the other four senses, you think before you respond. But with scent, "your brain responds before you think." So surround yourself with beautiful scents from candles, oils, and flowers. A fragrant moment in your day is one that not only soothes and delights, but provides an instant link to a great memory.
2. Touch
"When you touch a body, you touch the whole person, the intellect, the spirit, and the emotions." - Jane Harrington
Even when we're surrounded by friends and family, most people let too many days go by without loving touch. Touch is proven to reduce stress, improve functioning in elders, relieve the effects of Attention Deficit Disorder, and aid the development of premature babies. Whether it's a nice hug, a massage, or holding a hand, touch those you care about more often.
3. Taste
"Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Next time you're in the midst of a delicious bite of food, slow down and recognize how the experience of your tastebuds humming and your mouth watering creates a powerfully present moment. Turning a taste of exotic chocolate or a glass of your favorite wine into an evening ritual is a great way to find meaning in your day.
4. Sight
"The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision." –Hellen Keller
Take the time to appreciate the beautiful sights around you. It happens every day of our lives, but many of us go years between viewings of that awesome spectacle that is the sunrise. We underestimate our access to nature's beauty. Go ahead, gaze at the stars. A great sunset can slow time to a mere standstill, a full moon always sheds the finest light, and a stunning vista offers great perspective -- in more ways than one.
5. Sound
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness." -Maya Angelou
Music has long been thought to relax and restore, but it has also been shown to improve intelligence. Dr. Alfred Tomatis coined the term "The Mozart Effect," referring to the way Mozart's music seems to boost certain mental abilities. Why not start your day with a favorite song to set the tone and end your evening with a gentle tune to stimulate sweet dreams?
