Exploring thinking (using the 5 senses)

One of the quickest ways to change how you feel is through the five senses – seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting.

Grab a pen and try these mini exercises and I’ll show you what I mean. Take your time and immerse yourself in these situations, as though you were almost there. Notice what happens to your thoughts and feelings and then write it down.

1. You are enjoying a relaxing soak in a hot bath…

Did you make a picture of yourself relaxing in the bath? Or did you imagine it as though you were really there with water lapping against your skin? Was the image quiet or did you have softly playing music in the background? If the image was quiet can you now add softly playing music? Could you almost feel the warm water on your skin? Maybe you could smell the soft fragrance of bath oil? Did time seem to slow down?

2. You are in a cafe (that makes the best coffee you ever tasted), you are hanging out with a good friend and chatting and drinking coffee…

Did you hear bright chatty voices, sprinkled with a little laughter? Did you imagine the coffee aroma as you sit here? Could you almost taste it?

3. It’s a sunny day and you are outside, there’s a clear blue sky overhead and you can feel the sensation of warm sunshine on your skin…

Was imagining the feel of sunshine, almost warm on your skin? Did you picture being surrounded by a warm-yellow colour? Could you almost feel a gentle breeze on your face?

How does immersing yourself in these situations make you feel inside?

So what does all this mean?

The purpose of this exercise is to show you how easily you can change how you feel by thinking in different ways. And there’s not a positive affirmation in sight!