SIFT to Savor

We all want to experience more pleasurable events, the problem is we tend to speed over these events when they occur and therefore, lose the opportunity to savor the experience. Think about it like this, have you ever been guilty of having a tasty indulgent piece of cake (or insert favorite dessert here) set in front of you and before you know it, said cake seems to have disappeared before your eyes? I assuredly have...many times over. We become so habitualized to focusing on the next thing, the next reward and the potential experience that we discount the true pleasure and joy that can come from being in a positive experience. In order to practice what it is like to truly savor, we need to SIFT through our experience. SIFT is an acronym for Sensations, Images, Feelings and Thoughts and it proves a very useful blueprint for what to pay attention to when we catch ourselves in pleasure, joy or any other positive experience. Next time you find yourself in one go down the list and note the serials of each category. Bonus points if you write these features down in a “what went well” or positive experience journal. 

EXAMPLE: 

Experience - you are at the beach after a stressful week with your partner and/or friends.

Sensations - note the wind and sun on your skin, the salty hair in your head, the warmth between your toes as you wiggle them deeper into the sand. Try your best to connect to all 5 senses. 

Images - pay attention to the scene as people walk up and down the beach, the ebb and flow as the waves crash and crest on the horizon and the colors on your towel and umbrella. 

Feelings - pay attention to the feelings of a release of areas from the week, and happiness and gratitude of being able to go to the beach, the love and connection you feel for your friends and/or partner. 

Thoughts - name certain thoughts that present themselves. “I feel safe, I love the beach, Stress is only temporary...and so on”. 

I would be honored to develop this and other skills that allow you to approve experiences that you deserve. Let’s talk, I can help. 

TM