Over the last five years I’ve discovered the key to unlocking the life of your dreams.

The secret to being in the present moment — indefinitely.
The magic forumla for experiencing immense joy and gratitude every single day.

What is it?
It’s something that we all have (at least most of us).
It’s something that is on call 24/7 (no need to wait for your meditation cushion or yoga teacher to show up).

What I’m talking about, this (not so) secret sauce, is your senses. All six of ‘em.

Not to oversimplify things, but it really is true.
When you’re focused on what you’re sensing (seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, touching and feeling/intuiting), you can’t NOT be in the present moment. You arrive to the here and now by virtue of simply recognizing what is happening in your body with your senses.

It sounds simple enough, right? But in reality, I think 99% of us are out of practice.
I’m not exactly sure how or why we’ve complicated things so much. But we have.

Being present, reaching “enlightenment”, or just having a wee bit more joy in our lives, doesn’t have to be so damn hard.

I see so many of us striving for peace and comfort in our lives. We rush to meditation class. We push too hard in downward dog. We race our neighbors down the 110 freeway on the way to church. We fight our way to front of the line at Whole Foods.
Life is filled with pushing, shoving and struggle. And struggle is still struggle. Even when its well intentioned.
The senses offer another way. A much more easy going and FUN alternative to the ways above.

When I started paying more attention to my senses — everything changed. And I mean EVERYTHING.
My relationships became less strained. I eliminated dietary habits that weren’t good for me. I made better choices about who I spent my time with. I felt more peaceful, more grateful and generally a lot more happy about my life.

So, how do you begin to wake up to your senses? Here are a few ways that I’ve found useful in my explorations:

• SEE // before summer is up, get outside around magic hour (an hour or so before sunset) and really take in the sun as it’s setting in the sky. Notice the clouds, the shapes, the trees, the birds, the magical colors. Take in the moment, allow yourself to be in awe of what nature is capable of. SEE what’s happening in front of you. And I dare you not to get a little bit emotional about how much beauty is in the world.
• SMELL // the next time you’re in the shower or bath grab your bar of soap or put some body cleanser in your hands. Before you begin to rub yourself down, close your eyes and take a deep inhale. Really smell the soap. Is it fresh? Herbal? Clean and crisp? Perfumed? How does the scent feel when it reaches your nose? How do you feel after taking in the aroma? Relaxed? Invigorated? Calm? Impatient? Just notice. If the scent makes you feel joyful then it’s definitely one that should stick around. If you were less than enthused about your soap – maybe consider purchasing a new one soon. A product that makes you feel amazing while it does it’s cleanly duties = a necessity!
• HEAR // what’s your favorite song right now? Grab your phone and/or computer and pull up Spotify or iTunes and listen to the song. But REALLLLY listen. Stop everything else you’re doing. Close your eyes if you have to (this helps block out any other sensory stimulation – namely sight). How does the song make you feel? Connected? Filled with love? Sad? Like you wanna get up and dance? Notice each beat, the drums, the bass, the singer’s voice. Take in every single note and nuance. Listen with every fiber of your body. And if you really want to, get up and dance!
• TOUCH // grab your favorite blanket, any one will do but if it’s particularly soft, all the better. Let the blanket drape over you. Touch the fabric, notice the texture. What does it feel like under your fingers? How does that sensation make you feel inside? Cozy? Warm? Safe? Nurtured? Sleepy? Notice how something as simple as touch and texture can elicit tangible feelings.
• TASTE // the next time you sit down to a meal, pick one item on your plate and spend a good 10 minutes with it. Put it in your mouth. Notice how it feels against the skin, your tongue. What does the texture feel like? What does it taste like? What flavors can you pick out? Is it pleasing to your palate? Or bland and in need of some flavor? Taste is one of the most accessible of our senses. Take the time to really savor your meals. Each morsel of food is a chance to discover even greater awareness in the moment.
• FEEL // light a candle if you have one nearby. It helps set the mood for introspection and discovery. Sit in a comfortable position, upright, so that you can gaze at your candle flame for a minute or two. Then close your eyes. Breathe deeply about 5 to 10 times. Deep belly breaths, like a baby. Let each breath relax you. Settle your body into the surface where you sit. When you feel relaxed, ask yourself this question, “What do I know to be true right now?” Ask yourself the question a few times if needed. And then listen. The answer will come to you. You may have no idea what the answer means or it might be exactly what you needed to hear. Regardless, accept this answer without thinking too deeply into it.
  Take a few more deep belly breaths and open your eyes. What did you notice? Did the answer come to your right away? Or was it hard for you to hear?
  You might not know this, but you always have the answers. To this and every any question you ask. Pretty rad huh? It’s called intuition and it is a part of you — all the time. You just have to engage with your intuition regularly, like any muscle you want to develop and grow.

So, tell me, what are your favorite sense(s)? How do you engage with them? What are your go-to ways for becoming more aware and present in each moment?

xo
Stephanie

Photo by: Alexander Shustov