Our Five Senses - The Gateways To Well-being And Prosperity

Written by: Anna Niemira

"We don't trust our five senses; we rely on our critics and educators, all of whom are failures in the realm of creation." - Henry Miller

Technology has become our best friend. Computers, tablets, and smartphones are ever present and we seemingly cannot live without them. We have the advantage of super fast and effective communication yet, at the same time we are often overwhelmed with information, messages, images, and news we receive.  Our senses are over stimulated by outside noise, with our inner voices and intuition being silenced and even blocked.

We enjoy what technology offers to us. Yet, we need to remember that the purpose of all of these gadgets is to support our work and our routines, not to make us susceptible to their influence, taking over our natural ability to feel what is around us with our five senses.

The role of our big five

"The five senses are the ministers of the soul." - Leonardo da Vinci

Our sensory abilities channel our perception of the world in a very personal way that technology never will. They are a gift of nature that we, more often than not, do not pay special attention to.

Our five senses give us the ability to hear, touch, taste, see and smell through a connection with the sensory nervous system in our bodies. When our senses are sharp, we feel deeper. We connect with the environment around us, are sensitive to its cues, intensely collect and analyze the data we receive from our surroundings, and create a meaningful relationship with nature for our physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

Keeping our five senses engaged, at the best intensity and agility, lets us connect with our inner voice while experiencing the most of our surroundings.

Our senses are our signaling mechanism helping us recognize positive from possibly harmful situations. Our senses often work together, crisscross information to identify an object or our surroundings, delivering all the sensations.

Mental stimulation is good; however, mental noise is not. Our body and mind need to rest. Spending time in nature, and feeling intensely with our senses gives us a sense of fulfillment and optimizes our cognitive and physical performance.

Sense of Sight

"For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent Van Gogh

Keep your eyes wide open. The natural human predator stereoscopic vision lets us see three-dimensionally with the ability to recognize millions of colors.

Colors play a very important role in our life. A red hue might alert us to danger but it is also a color of passion.  Food served on red plates, or red related shades, such as orange or yellow increase our appetite. Pink makes a desert feel sweeter than it really is.  Green correlates with healthy and nutritional values; thus, our meal served on a green plate will add visually to us feeling positively about what we eat.

The sense of sight is considered one of the strongest senses, with humans often depending on it more than on any other sense.

How can we improve our sense of sight?

It is important to see what is around us, register the details, and notice any movement or changes in the landscape. Therefore, when you walk, keep your head up and look ahead seeing everything around you.

If you feel that your eyes are tired, take a short break, and close your eyes for a moment to give them some rest.  Use an anti-glare shield to cover your computer screen to protect your eyes against harmful particles of the digital screen. Read and work in a well-lit space. Wear sunglasses that block ninety-nine to a hundred percent of UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes.

Eat nutritional food such as fish, nuts, legumes, seeds, carrots, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, and leafy greens to support your eyes.

Sense of Hearing

“Try listening with more than just your ears.” - Craig D. Lounsbrough

We multi-task when we listen. We can pick up various sound vibrations simultaneously from different sources registering equally loud sounds and whispers. Hearing is a very powerful sense keeping us joyous or out of danger, depending on what sounds are around us.

The sound of an alarm or some noise will immediately wake us up and prompt us to action. Listening to nice music or the voice of a loved one calms us and relaxes us. What we hear influences our mood and frame of mind.

How can we sharpen our sense of hearing?

Listen to the nearby sounds as much as to the ones from a distance picking up on the chirping of the birds, the soft rustle of trees, and the swishing of wind.  Pay attention to the sound of the current in the nearby stream or river. Take time to pick up on the rhythmic movement of the sea or ocean waves.

Alternatively, tune in to the recorded sounds of nature when you read, meditate, or do home chores, alternating with classical or soft jazz music. To prevent hearing loss, be sure to listen to any sounds or music at a lower volume.

Food rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 as well as whole grain products, bananas, broccoli, and dark chocolate can deliver the necessary ingredients to support our sense of hearing.

Sense of Smell

"Of the five senses, the smell is the one with the best memory." - Rebecca McClanahan

When we breathe in and out, we register thousands of scents. This sensory organ is connected directly to the brain. We remember scents from our childhood and each time we come across the same or similar fragrances, we feel good.  It might be the scent of food or the aroma of candles or flowers that bring powerful memories and a feeling of well-being.

Highly concentrated odors cause deeper stimulation, as they might be also a sense of warning, whereas sweet-smelling, perfumed scents help us to feel at ease. Each of us produces pheromones, our specific scent that helps us attract others and bond with our loved ones.

How can we refine our sense of smell?

Bark on trees, leaves, and flowers spoil us with plenty of fragrances with intensified scent when we rub petals or leaves together. When you buy or receive flowers, delight yourself with their scent. Either you purchase fresh herbs at the local market or pick them up at the park or forest, learn about them and recognize them by their aroma.

Get creative with your cooking by adding herbs and spices to your dishes making each meal delightfully appetizing with aromatic flavors.

Sense of Touch

"Touch comes before sight, before a speech. It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth." - Margaret Atwood

We have receptors all over the body. Our skin is the largest organ sensitive to the most gentle and delicate touch, pressure and temperature, with the receptors in our fingertips, lips and soles of feet being the most perceptive.

How can we intensify our sense of touch?

Connect with and feel nature. Touch the bark of the various trees to recognize differences.  Walk barefoot on the grass in the park or on the sand at seashore.  Deepen your feet in the water at the coast of the river or sea.  Touch plants to feel their texture.

Drink plenty of water to keep your skin well moisturized; and thus, more sensitive to every touch.

Sense of Taste

"One cannot develop taste from what is of average quality but only from the very best." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

We have ten thousand taste buds in our mouth to experience the most delicate flavors, with the brain processing the information about the food we eat. There are five basic tastes: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory.

Sweet taste is derived from sugar or sugar-infused products such as sweets or fruits. Citrus fruits and vinegar deliver a sour taste with a salty flavor coming directly from salt or sodium. Products such as coffee, green tea, cocoa, cranberries, kale, or other green veggies might have a bitter taste.

How can we enhance our sense of taste?

Eat slowly, and deliberately, indulging in every bite, and feeling the taste. Try new flavors by eating food from the kitchens around the world. When you travel order local food and learn about the ingredients, herbs and spices used in the dishes to get familiar with their unique tastes.

Drink various herb and fruit teas and coffees from different regions recognizing their distinctive aromas. Buy fresh, good quality food rich in nutrients and sensational in taste.

Taking care of your senses

"No idea is conceived in our mind independent of our senses." - Albert Einstein

If we take care of our senses, our senses will take care of us giving enhanced experiences and a deep connection with our feelings.  Our intuition and our gut feeling will be that much sharper receiving signals from our senses. We will learn to recognize our emotions and sensations, either about people or situations and act on a hunch.  We will combine our smarts with our inner feelings for the ultimate analysis and decisions.

Unplug from technology and connect with nature to sharpen the senses. Go outside and consciously practice natural sensitivity.

Connect with your sixth sense

"Our five senses are incomplete without the sixth, a sense of humor." - William Arthur Ward

What are all the sensations and sensitivities without a sense of humor? Sometimes, even a big problem or a mistake can be turned into a humorous situation, especially if we look at the issue from a distance of time. Whether the occasion to laugh comes from the outside circumstances, or personal mishaps, we can always have a healthy chuckle. After all, laughter is the best medicine. 

Indulge in all your five senses by adding your sixth sense, your sense of humour!