Day 49: One think I learned today…
What do you think about when you think of Savoring? Holding on to the last bit of your favorite coffee or chocolate in order to fully enjoy it?
Savoring is also a topic in positive psychology. Fully appreciating an experience or a moment. This can then lead to positive emotions. Some simple techniques to help you increase this could be sharing experiences with others and being fully present, being grateful to have the opportunity/experience, or small items to remind you of the experience.
Yesterday I received and email that my Coeur Velo Cycling Membership Discount was expiring. To give you a bit of info about this group. At least 3 days per week there is an opportunity for a group ride plus bonus rides on the weekends. Coaches provide workout for each ride and coach you through them. Connections have developed, inside jokes form and a supportive community is there to address all the weird things which can come up being a cyclist or triathlete.
My first thought was “NO”. Although I have not been using this membership as much as I wanted to over the past couple of weeks, I was super bummed out. Then I received another email stating that this was a mistake. Just the thought of the membership expiring or thinking about what the group will do when the weather is nice again made me realize how much I appreciate this group of cyclists. I literally laugh out loud some mornings with some of the stories I hear.
On todays ride, I savored the time spend on my bike. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to be apart of this group. Have access to amazing coaches and a reason to ride.
Two papers are listed below which go along with this information.
The Krutz paper looked at the ending of a positive life experience and how this can lead to increased enjoyment. Basically you enjoy things more when you think it’s going to end soon. This paper focused on college students and thoughts regarding graduation/the end of college journey sooner vs later. The Jose paper reviewed how savoring positive experience makes you happier.
What are you Savoring?
Source:
Jose et al. (2012). Does savoring increase happiness? A daily diary study. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(3), 176-187.
Kurtz (2008). Looking to the future to appreciate the present: The benefits of perceived temporal scarcity. Psychological Science, 19(10), 1238-1241.
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