The word savour (savor in American English) is an interesting word, it is a verb. It has at least 2 meanings in the dictionary:

1. To fully enjoy the taste or smell of something

2. To fully enjoy a time or experience

I feel the first definition is limited to taste and smell when I feel it should be all the senses. Another definition I feel encompasses the sentiment better : 

• to enjoy food or an experience slowly, in order to enjoy it as much as possible

This extends to one more which is the one we will use in this article: 

• attempt to fully feel, enjoy, and extend our positive experiences

The practice of savouring leads to more happiness. We can savour all three tenses of time: Past, Present and Future. I have enjoyed this practice. I share a few examples here.

Savouring the Past

Recently I enjoyed reminiscing about a convention that I co-led 20 years ago for Young Jains, a faith organisation I volunteer for. The experience 20 years ago was amazing, creative, high energy and innovative with wonderful team work. Individually I enjoyed seeing some photos, reading a souvenir magazine and listening to music  from the event. We hosted a 20 Year catch up and some people who had attended 20 years ago joined sharing their experiences and memories. This led to a feel good energy, re-living the positive experiences and memories and a sense of community and connection. A benefit of savouring the past positive experiences is you get to live them again and create new memories.

Another example is Facebook popping up a memory from 2018 when we took part in a volunteering programme in India with the Jain school that we are part of. It brought back many good memories and associated with it good feelings.

What is a past experience that you savour?

Savouring the Future

I enjoy planning for the future, having events and activities scheduled in the diary to look forward to. These may be a holiday, trip away, catch-up with family/friends, visit to theatre etc. The anticipation and looking forward to generating positive emotions and good feelings as much as the actual event. An example of this is booking tickets for the Back To the Future musical months in advance of chosen visit date. Back To the Future is a classic film I grew up with so we are already onto a winner. Again looking forward to the actual day with much enthusiasm was wonderful. The musical did not disappoint; great sets, acting, humour, music and a De Lorean. It was a shared experience with my family. We created a memory that we can relish and savour in the future. 

What is a future experience you can schedule to later savour?

Savouring in the Present

A key to savouring the past or the future is to be fully present in the present. To be mindful, engaged in the moment, aware and enjoy it. Some examples I have experienced are:

A few years ago I took part in a retreat where the meal at lunch time was in silence. I ate mindfully, chewing slowly, observing and enjoying each bite and chew. Savouring the taste, experience and textures.

During a full packed day with my wife visiting London we enjoyed St Paul’s Cathedral with a tour, boat trip on the Thames, lovely vegan meal, Mama Mia the Musical with a walk across Waterloo bridge at night time. Each of those moments I experienced being in the moment, enjoying it and not thinking about the experience before or coming after. This led to deeper enjoyment of each moment.

Ways to Savour

Journaling

The Happiness Journal (the 5 minute journal) we supply and use in the Happy Life Habits 30 Day Gratitude & Journal Habit Immersion Training Course helps capture some savouring across the past, present and future with sections on gratitude, what would make today great and what was amazing about today.

Facebook memories

Capture memories in Facebook on your timeline and enjoy savouring when Facebook pops up the memory on it’s anniversary

Google Photos

Capture your digital photos and store them in google photos letting it pop up the memories on your phone. I enjoyed seeing memories from 14 years ago.

Create memories to savour

Book, schedule experiences and activities. Even better if you can book them with someone else to create shared memories.

Take photos / videos. My son recently turned 18. A great idea would have been to take a photo of him on each birthday and capture it in an album. Likewise for anniversaries.

Happy Life Habits events, talks, workshops and training are a great opportunity to create positive memories and emotions. The waiting list for the 30 Day Gratitude and Journal Habit Immersion Training Course is open.

We enjoy celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and World Days… see below.

Have a Great Day

There goes another day of your life. How did you live it?

What did you choose?

Happy Life Habits is celebrating the following upcoming World Days.

World Mindfulness Day : Monday 12th September

World Gratitude Day (Also International Day of Peace) : Wednesday 21st September

Shaileen Shah's Birthday : Monday 26th September

World Values Day : Thursday 20th October

World Kindness Day : Sunday 13th November

We hold dear Mindfulness, Gratitude, Kindness, Values and Birthdays as reminders of the things important in our life and essential for our happiness, wellbeing and a good life. An opportunity to celebrate, reflect, re-enforce and connect.

If you would like a passionate, enthusiastic, inspiring and encouraging talk or workshop on these topics during the World Day or the week the World Day falls in then look no further than Happy Life Habits. This is what we believe in and live by : Positively Impacting Happiness and Wellbeing Levels (every day)!

Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day.

We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.

These include the 30 Day Gratitude and Journaling Habit Immersion Training Course and the monthly MasterMind Group sessions

Great investments that produce outstanding results - guaranteed!

 

The Happiness Journal used by Tim Ferris, Emma Watson and Shaileen Shah (pretty much every day for the last 6.5 years) is a great starter tool to shift your mood and develop morning routines. For a DIY option the journal is available for £27 (£30 inc p&p in UK, international please enquire. Order 2 or more journals at £25 each).

This is a perfect, unique and life changing gift that can be gifted for:

• teachers at the end of the year as a thank you

• Birthdays, anniversaries, weddings

• graduations, new job

• staff / employees

In fact it has been well received as a corporate gift by staff, clients and suppliers when given by my clients. (Enquire for bulk orders and add value workshops). A journal workshop and 30 Day gratitude & journal habit immersion training course (running for the last 2 years) are also available.

Contact Shaileen@HappyLifeHabits.co.uk for any enquiries.

Happy Life Habits rewires hearts & minds for better productivity, happiness and wellbeing in 10 minutes a day. We help you move out of the comfort zone and into the learning/growth zones. Our products and services help develop habits and continuous personal development.

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Shaileen Shah is a Happiness Coach, Speaker and Trainer. Previously having been in finance technology for the investment banking arm of RBS during the RBS takeover of Natwest, the RBS takeover of ABN Ambro and the financial crisis he has experienced the challenges brought by uncertainty, change and stress. He is certified in The Science of Happiness and shares through Happy Life Habits. Happy Life Habits Positively Impacts Happiness & Well Being Levels by creatively and uniquely combining Personal Development + The Science of Happiness + Spirituality. A business for Good. For more information see HappyLifeHabits.co.uk.