Mental Health And Your Five Senses, How They’re Connected
Keeping your up with your mental health may be a symbolic priority on your healthy “to do” list. Let’s face it, if you’re like many others you 
really have no idea where to start. You don’t know how to meditate, you don’t know what foods to eat for mental health and you may not feel that you have the tools necessary to take any big steps.
I’m here to tell you that you have everything you need, right now. You have the tools to improve your mental health and they are literally within you. Best of all you can utilize them every day.
What are they?
They are your five senses.
The trick is to utilize each of them differently than you would in a normal day. Each sense is a powerful force, and allowing all your focus to hone in on that power will bring you closer to your goal every day. The real test is how you can consistently follow these guidelines, and how much time per day you spend quieting your mind, focusing your sensory inputs and improving your mental health as a result.
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The Five Sense and Better Mental Health
Taste And Mental Health
When you plan your next meal, try to give yourself more time than you normally would. An extra half hour is a good place to start. The type of food doesn’t matter, as long as you are able to sit down and spend some time with it. Then, eat slowly. With each bite, allow yourself to chew thoroughly, and then swallow before returning the fork. Focus on the taste, how the food feels on your tongue and which area of taste buds responds the clearest to the flavor. Put all of your energy on experiencing the flavor of your food, and you will find a state of mental quiet and focus. Hopefully, you will also find a renewed gratitude for your sense of taste, and your ability to experience such a wonderful thing as food.
Smell And Mental Health
If you don’t have a stock of natural oils in your home, I suggest you invest in at least a couple. Peppermint and lavender are a couple of great staples. Wake up a little earlier (15 minutes or so) every morning, and before bedtime every night wrap up your daily activities early to give you a few more minutes. In the mornings, rub a bit of peppermint oil on your temples and under your nose, then lie in a reclined position. Focus on the freshness of the scent, the way it bites and clears your sinuses. Peppermint will naturally energize you, and your mental awareness of the scent will train your mind to ignore outside distractions. At night, use the lavender oil in the same way. This will relax your mind, while still providing strength training for your mental focus – as long as you remain aware of the way your sense of smell responds.
Hearing And Mental Health
Giving yourself a few minutes every day where you can go somewhere quiet is crucial for this step. This space doesn’t have to be absolutely silent, but it has to be still enough that you won’t be distracted by any major sounds. Once you’re there, try to shut off your other senses (closing your eyes will help) and just listen to your environment. You don’t necessarily have to identify each sound; just accept it, and follow its direction with your mind. If you can find a quiet enough place, you can possibly hear your own heartbeat and organs (which is most definitely a spiritual experience). By doing this exercise you will experience mental stillness, which is vital for a health mind.
Sight And Mental Health
Now that you have mental stillness down, it’s time to ramp your brain activity back up. On your daily routine, whether you’re driving or on the bus, take some time to look closely at the world around you. Try to evaluate every person, place, and thing as a piece of art. Notice the lines and colors of building graffiti, and admire the shape and structure of a trash can. See everything around you, and try to find beauty in things you normally wouldn’t. Using your sense of sight for good will reinforce its importance to you and will remind you how to view the world in a way that will bring you true inner peace and happiness.
Touch and Mental Health
This is possibly the most important sense to improve for overall health. While your sense of feeling gives you pain and suffering, it also is capable of giving you the most positive simulations possible. Spend more time exercising your sense of touch. Run your hands along textures that peak your curiosity. Explore the temperatures of different household objects. Make more physical contact with your loved ones. Whether your children or your spouse, your connection with them is never complete without a sense of touch involved. Try to bring yourself positive, comfortable sensations for your body and skin. Focus on them for an ultimate sense of relaxation and gratitude. A positive sense of touch will do wonders for your mental health.
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These are only the first steps towards achieving enhanced mental health, but they are important steps. They will bring you clarity and with time a better understanding of your life and what you want out of it. These are the barest of essentials of meditation, and can be honed with some work and dedication. Strong senses will bring you power. With this power will come an ability to live in the happiest, most peaceful way possible.
Chris Millers a professional writer, blogger, and English grammar enthusiast. Chris enjoys learning about new health products, procedures, and ideas, and loves to help beautiful people find help with their acne scar removal.
