Doctor Feelgood, paging Doctor Feelgood.
You’re needed in the human ward.
No no no, not THAT one.
Your Doctor Feelgood.
Aka YOU
Where did all the pleasure go?
Pleasure is such an underrated piece of the wellbeing puzzle. There is endless focus on improvement and growth and far too little on celebration and enjoyment. And if your not feeling too well, down in the dumps, no worries there’s a (legal) drug for that. Which is crazy given we’re always carrying. Yup, your body is the ultimate “drug” dealer. Cannabinoids, opioids, amphetamines, tryptamines, all courtesy of yours truly. We even produce some lovely stuff not even the most hooked up dealers peddle.
And yet we externally seek for molecules to bring us internally bliss, joy, ecstasy and pleasure to despite these molecules existing within us. The new age mantra you are all you need is definitely overplayed and has a very real limit, but when it comes to feel good molecules you are all you need. The challenge is in triggering their release.
The pursuit of pleasure is a one-way ticket to disappointment but a life path without pleasure will be a dis-eased one. We’re talking lower life spans, more inflammation (and therefore more dis-ease of every kind), higher blood pressure (because of the inflammation) and an impaired psycho-neuro-endo-immunology [yes this is a real thing, it’s basically the mind-body connection Eastern philopshy has insisted on for year being studied in allopathic medicine as the connection between your psychology, neurochemistry, endocrine (hormone) system and immune system]. And all of that effectively because your central nervous system doesn’t get enough rest from sympathetic mode aka stress mode. Pleasure brings you into parasympathetic, into healing, into peace, into health.
It shouldn’t be difficult at all to cultivate pleasure, it’s as human as it gets, but in this hyper individualized, fragmented and stress saturated society it has become all too fleeting. Below are several studied, specifically stamped ways to feeling good. I mean, it’s ludicrous this even had to be studied by that’s where we are.
But before jumping into this list, there’s an overarching theme here – connection.
Connecting to yourself, others and the experience of life itself.
So here’s the list.
The scientifically “approved” ways to connect? 😬
Number one – physically, the human touch. This is endlessly powerful. Skin to skin contact is the medicine pharmaceutical will never get close to bottling. Connect emotionally and socially by fostering intimate relationships. Be of service to others, be generous and give to others. Connect to a non-human living being. Sing and dance. Music has been part of the human experience since far before civilization, it does something to the soul we’re evolved to resonate with. Connect to yourself with things and experience that make you smile and make yourself feel alive. And laugh. Laughter is medicine. All of the above will reduce stress, relieve pain, improve your health and the overall texture of your life.
Food, exercise and sleep will keep you alive but absent pleasure and connection you won’t be living. And you’ll be alive a good bit shorter. So less serious and more smiles. Less pain and more pleasure.
The goal shouldn’t be to stay alive until we all must transition out of our bodies.
The goal is to have lived.
Disclaimer:
Remember dear reader, I am neither a doctor nor any sort of medical physician in any capacity. None of the information presented above can be construed as any sort of medical advice in any sort of manner. You as the reader is solely responsible for creating and implementing your own physical, mental and emotional well-being, decisions, choices and actions. As such, the reader agrees that the author is not and will not be liable or responsible for any actions or inaction taken by the reader or for any direct or indirect results. This information is simply presented and whatever you decide to do with it is your choice and your responsibility.
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