Balancing the Brain with Our Innate Senses

This week the focus is about getting in touch with our own innate senses. The word innate means inborn or natural. We all have innate skills, innate dreams and desires that makes us each unique. Our five senses are how we interact with the external world and actually create the quality of our life. These senses also direct our internal drives and motivation. We can all create an internal feeling that is enough to compel us to travel great distances for our favorite food, to see something that is majestic as a ocean sunset, or listen our favorite musician.

I would like to take a closer look at how to reduce the stresses of daily life by using the sense of smell. Different smells can actually alter brainwave patterns because it is the only sense that bypasses the gatekeeper of the brain( thalamus). The universal smell for calming the brain is lavender .It has a direct effect on the brain and nervous system reducing anxiety. If you have kids that are more hyperactive and they have a hard time sleeping, use lavender on their pillow. When my grandkids come over my wife will put it a little bit of lavender oil on their pillow and it's amazing how they sleep much better.

We begin the digestive process with smelling our food first. With our fast food society it is so easy to overeat because the sense of smell is not stimulated. The brain triggers the digestive process with smell and begins stimulating the release of digestive enzymes. Many times a meal has already been devoured before the body can catch up so indigestion occurs. I challenge to consciously tap into your senses this week at a greater level of mindful awareness.

Better Brain Tip

Close your eyes for an entire meal and truly listen to sounds around you and taste your food at a higher level. We all need to use our five senses on a daily basis however many times we can be on auto pilot and don't allow the body to digest the energy and information our food and environment is providing. Slow down today and it will be easier get the brain in better balance and reduce stresses on your nervous system.