Body sensations orient us to the world around us. Our bodies are sensational organisms. We receive signals from the external world and also from within our own working organs. We feel part of the world, we feel safe or unsafe in the world, and we love or hate the world we live in, because of the sensations we feel and the way our brain interpret the sensations.
Our Five Senses
When we take the time to watch the sun rise, to gaze at the moon, to observe the grass and trees and flowers, we are pleasing our sense of sight. If we choose instead to focus on the imperfections in our living environment (dust, dirt, cluttered small space, leakages, something not working properly), we may actually be suppressing the sense of sensuality in our vision. If we are upset by our environment and tend to look away so as not to see it, what else might we be avoiding seeing?
When we are praised and acknowledged, if we often receive letters, emails and texts with loving words, our sense of hearing is pleased. When we take the time to listen to our favorite music or the sounds of birds chirping or dogs barking, our ears become more open and receptive. But when we often feel criticized and judged, if we do not readily hear or receive loving and kind words, our hearing response may actually be suppressed.
Our taste buds also respond to our own conditioning? If we restrict our intake of food to a certain routine of low fat, low sugar, low sodium foods, we may be able to lose or maintain our weight but what are we doing to our sense of being alive, of enjoying the moments in our precious life? In our society, now, those who eat freely are often judged and even criticized by the ones who are carefully restricting their food intake. But how joyful it is to eat delicious, savory foods. Every culture has used food for family gatherings and all sorts of celebrations. Our sense of taste brings us pleasure when other aspects of life may be difficult, unsatisfying and even scary.
Our sense of smell is one of the strongest environmental cues that we have. We may respond with affection toward someone whose natural scent is appealing and we may recoil from an unpleasant odor. When we smell something reminiscent of our favorite relative's pumpkin pie or roast beef or oven baked bread, just thinking about that smell can bring us into a state of pleasant reverie and relaxation. Conversely, rape victims are often all too conscious of the body odors during that traumatic event and may be triggered to react negatively to a similar noxious scent later in life.
Our voice, when used in an open and clear way, can help our entire body to heal. What we say is connected to what we are thinking and what we are feeling in our body. When we freely and openly express our true thoughts, beliefs and emotions, our body feels relaxed and open. But when we are continually holding back, blocking and not saying what we want and need to say to the person or people that are affecting us, our body and our immune system can suffer.
Finally, our sense of touch may be even more powerful than all of our other senses. People who cannot see or hear or even speak can be profoundly affected by touch. Our entire body is covered with skin. Our body is a hologram and any part that is touched will affect every other part. A caring hand upon your shoulder or someone's open arms ready to hold you, can bring immense comfort in the midst of even the most traumatic event. A loving hug can help to heal a broken heart. Touch can actually cause certain genes to express that may have been dormant and not expressing.
Expand Your Five Senses
Take some time today to explore the world with your senses. Imagine for a moment that each one of your senses is the only one you have. If you have only one sense left, which would you choose? Imagine the intensity of sensitivity you could gain in that one sense. Imagine living a life with that intensity in each of your senses every day.
