How Do You Orient Towards Pleasure?

Pleasure.

What a word! There's a chance when you read that word, strong connotations came up for you. What were they? What did you notice?

Let's use good old Merriam Webster to define this word for us:

1. A source of delight or joy

2. A state of gratification

In the US, I think we tend to link pleasure with sex and sexuality. But that's not necessarily what it means.

Pleasure can be found anywhere: a slow walk at sunset, watching the dew collect on the flowers, sliding into clean sheets after a shower, the smell of your dogs paws, or the first bite of a ooey gooey slice of pizza.

When you think of things that bring you pleasure: how do you orient towards it?

Do you go towards it? away from it?

Do certain beliefs or narratives pop up in your head? (for example: I haven't earned that pleasurable thing so I can't have it).

Some folks chase pleasure so much that they can overdo it. Seeking that first bite feeling at the cost of their sanity.

What's your relationship with pleasure like?

If you have a hard time accessing it, try connecting to your sense of pleasure once a day. It can be as simple or complex as you want.

It can be a hug from a loved one or a massage or sitting on the porch with a warm cup of tea and feeling your lungs fill with air.

It can be really helpful to tune into the 5 Senses (smell, sight, touch, taste, hear). So if you're feeling stuck it can be as simple as: what do I want to hear right now?

If you tend to be someone who can overdo pleasure seeking- try to physically hold the urge. Not repress it, I mean literally hold it like you're holding a new plant. Observe it, look at the roots, the leaves, and stems.

"Ok. I want to go all in on this pleasurable thing. What else do I need? Is there something other than this chocolate cake I need right now?".

Don't judge your answer. Is there a way to have both things? Chocolate cake and a 5 minute break away from screens? How can you give yourself what you need? (and cool if that's the cake and cool if it's not).

US society is very pleasure-averse. We like quick hits of satisfaction, but we can miss out on the lingering sensation of pleasure.

This week, notice how pleasure shows up for you. In all facets of life!