Your Pleasure Matters

Your Pleasure Matters.
It helps you have a good life, fulfilling relationships, and general satisfaction.
I learned a new word this winter, "anhedonia." It means 'the inability to feel pleasure.'
For example, an anhedonic parent cannot feel joy playing with their baby.
Anhedonia is a classic symptom of depression, but interestingly, also commonly occurs after traumatic stress.
You may have experienced this, or even be experiencing it right now. I know I did this winter.
Will our history texts reflect the traumatic stress of 2020-25?
The further we move from social distancing and quarantine, the more impact we will realize it has had. The numbness. The isolation. The fear and grief.
Having the capacity to feel joy and pleasure suddenly removed is A Big Deal.
As you move back into being social, being in the world, you might have to relearn how to feel good.
One way to build capacity for joy is to be mindful in the midst of a good thing.
Savoring is a practice that allows your brain to name what you are experiencing.
Bringing awareness to when you feel good helps you feel better in your life.
Pleasure isn't frosting. It isn't something extra to get to when all the work is done. Triggering your pleasure centers in your brain is good for your physical and mental health.
Your pleasure matters because I want you to have a good life. And how you spend your days is how you spend your life.
What is one thing you could do this week that would be pleasurable?

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