Transforming Our Environment through Sensory Experience: A Season of Change
Autumn is in the air, a palpable shift in energy and environment, wherein we begin to move our attention inwards and indoors. This organic, seasonal transition brings a host of sensory experiences to signal the annual progression.
Vibrant hues of gold and crimson begin to envelop the trees, sprinkling a fallen patchwork of warm colors along the roadsides and sidewalks. The days become shorter as our top half of the globe tilts away from the sun, extending the blue morning dawn and hastening the amber evening dusk. The sound of birds in migration overhead punctuate the rising and setting of the sun, inviting the briskness of sweater-weather. Soft and cozy scarves emerge, as sundresses and shorts move to the back of the closet. The aroma of glowing firewood through dusty chimneys slowly replaces the charcoal scent of late afternoon barbecues. Summer berries, peaches, and plums make way for more hearty seasonal fare like butternut squash soup, savory stews, and warm pumpkin bread.
As I tune into the dramatic shifts of fall, with its dropping temperatures and electric energy of change in the air, I become increasingly aware of this sensory process. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile experiences associated with transition offers us the opportunity to recognize the profound and far-reaching influence of our environment.
Impact of Environment
There has been a great deal of appropriate and necessary attention in the media on the importance of our larger environment and the impact of climate change on our cosmic home. The images of plastic infested oceans, fire-blazing rainforests, and crashing ice glaciers all invoke in us a sense of awe over our powerful, yet vulnerable planet, and an urgency to intervene (assuming it’s not too late). This awareness is critical and time sensitive.
However, it is not only the macro-perspective of our planet that serves as the context of our environment. Just as we are (and must be) more informed with regards to the status of the earth on which we live, we must take responsibility for the status of our personal environment as well. Our immediate surroundings and internal (mind-body) terrain also deserve our awareness, as this intimate environment plays a critical role in our overall health, wellness, and livelihood.
In his revolutionary book, “The Biology of Belief,” cellular biologist and renowned researcher and professor, Bruce Lipton, Ph.D. explains in great scientific detail how and why it is our environment which has the most critical impact on our mental, emotional, and physical health. He addresses environment on a continuum from macro (the big-picture) health of our planet, down to the micro (zoomed-in) perspective of the health of our cells. At the most basic cellular level, Lipton challenges us to turn toward our environment, both internal and external, for answers and solutions to almost any disease, disorder, or distress.
Whether we are ailing or thriving, we can elicit significant and valuable information from the context and environment around and within us. What is working for us? What is working against us? In order to access this information, we must be willing to take the time and opportunity for honest reflection.
External vs. Internal
Environment can mean both external and internal. The external environment refers to our surroundings, including (but not limited to) our living/working space, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the people with whom we interact, and the information we consume (media, books, etc). Our internal environment refers more to what is generated within us, and may include our thoughts, memories, belief systems, and even subconscious cognitive or psychological processes.
In reflecting on where and how we exist on a day-to-day basis, how would we describe our immediate environment? Giving specific focus to our sensory experience (what we see, hear, smell, taste, and feel), what is happening in our current situation? What feeling or sensation does our physical space evoke for us? Take a look around you. Does it feel safe, clean, sufficient, and comfortable? Do we have access to ample nutritional food? Are our relationships supportive and nurturing? What kind of information are we consuming for our mind (motivation) and spirit (inspiration)?
Take a moment to bring your attention inward. What feeling or sensation arises when we attune to our internal terrain? Continue to invite the wisdom of the senses. Is there a certain texture, tone, taste, or color that shades our inner experience? Are we able to move about freely in our bodies and minds? Do we feel safe to explore our internal wilderness? What does our self-dialogue convey about our relationship to ourselves? Can we identify where we might get caught up in counterproductive or self-destructive patterns? How do our thoughts and belief systems help or hinder us?
Inviting Personal Transition
Without judgement, we can assess the dynamics at play in our lives. Rather than assigning the value of “good” or “bad,” take a stance of curiosity. It can be profoundly informative simply to have an orientation of where we currently stand, to have better sense of where we are in our own unique process.
If there are aspects of our immediate environment or internal terrain that we would like to change, what steps can we take to do so?
Begin with what IS working. Inventory what feels right, healthy, and fulfilling in your life right now. This can be as specific or general as you like. It helps to recognize where we are already aligned with the direction we want to be moving in our lives.
Start small and slow. Break down overwhelming outcome-based goals into smaller, more manageable tasks. Look at your broader end-goal and work backward to determine where to begin.
Become the director of your sensory experience. Our five senses: sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch, are the means through which we interact with our environment. Consider making modifications to what you see on your computer screen (or beyond). Integrate new foods into your diet. Mix up the music or podcasts you listen to in the car. Even minor adjustments to our sensory experience may produce interesting and unexpected results.
As the autumn leaves are turning colors outside, we have the opportunity to initiate desired transformation, inviting a new season into our own lives. Our internal and external environments are likely the most influential factors of our health and vitality. By tapping into the environment and manipulating our sensory experience in positive ways, we have the opportunity to bring about a refreshing shift in our perceptions, our belief systems, and our relationships with ourselves and the world around us.