Savoring the Moment | Dr. Miller’s Memory Minute
Remember Dug the Dog from the movie Up and his distracted random outcries of “Squirrel!” ? In a world filled with distractions, it is easy to get overwhelmed and feel scattered. This can lead to stress and anxiety about everything that is going on. But savoring the present grounds our thoughts and helps us live mindfully and in the moment. Brain Wellness & Lifestyle Senior Director, Karen Miller, PhD, explains.
❋ Did You Know Living Mindfully Increases Happiness?
We often associate August with certain milestones. Travel, summer break, even retirement.
For some, it might be planning a special trip – but there’s so much to do! For others, it might be about children moving through school. Time is going so fast! Are there really only two more summers until they go off to college (or graduate from college)? For many of our clients, they are thinking about transitioning into retirement by the end of the year – is now the right time? How will I spend my time? Will I feel fulfilled?
With these and more, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and we can benefit from savoring the moment. It is an act of mindfulness where we appreciate the situation, people, and emotions that are going on in our lives right now. By focusing on positive details, we can reduce our immediate level of stress and increase overall happiness.
❋ The Mindful Moments Challenge
Enjoy the here and now and notice the little things:
- A smile or kind word from someone.
- The everyday deeds of friends and family.
- The beauty of our surroundings – the green leaves of a tree, the crash of the ocean waves, the colors of the sunset, the bloom of a flower.
- An unexpected joke from a co-worker.
- The sound of laughter from our grandchildren.
❋ Savor the Moment
These acts of being present and savoring the moment can ignite our sensory experiences. What did we see, hear, smell, or touch? We create a mini memory of the moment that can bring a spark of joy. Our in-the-moment memory can link to other positive long-term memories creating a cascade of warm feelings.
For me, the sight and fragrance of pink roses sparks fond memories of my grandfather. He was a florist, and each weekend he created beautiful bouquets of the delicate pink blooms, donating them to various worship services.
Savoring the moment means taking a few extra seconds to create a mental record of things we enjoy, reminding us that there are good things in life despite our busy and demanding schedules.
About Dr. Karen Miller
Karen Miller, PhD, is the Senior Director of the Brain Wellness & Lifestyle program at Pacific Neuroscience Institute®, and is a leading national expert in Memory/Cognitive Training. With more than three decades of experience in the field of aging and memory as a geropsychologist and clinical neuropsychologist, she develops and directs the implementation of programs aimed at providing a roadmap to brain wellness.
Learn More About Brain Wellness & Lifestyle
213-344-2037
1301 20th St. #100, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Lifestyle@pacificneuro.org
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Last updated: September 18th, 2024