The Epicurean Art of Taking Pleasure

 

Some random musings today about pleasure, and the holiday season...

As human beings we make choices based on both conscious and unconscious motivations and on our internal conceptual construct of the world. We can have either a "default" (letting things happen as they may) or we can hold a stance focused toward consciously chosing -- such as the creation and contemplation of personal goals. And we can set for ourselves the goal of focusing more on what brings pleasure and joy, as well as noticing what brings a smile to our face as we interact with others.

How our life unfolds depends on this:  We are subject to the options we perceive when we make choices. But what affects the options that we perceive? I would say that positivity and a sense of competence (based on my reading of the book "Positivity" by Barbara Fredrickson -- this may need to be a future blog). Thinking further about positivity and competence...perhaps this is the meaning behind one of the four points in the Epicurean Tetrapharmakos: "What is good is easy to get". When we feel confident, then even challenging things can unfold much easier.

As Epicureans, we might need to consider and remember the "natural goods" -- friendship, wisdom (of the natural world as it functions under cause and effect rather than superstition), and self-sufficiency (not being overly-dependent for our wellbeing on people and things which are unreliable mentally or materially). *I could be defining these slightly different than what is found in Epicurean philosophy*

So we can put some effort into setting up a good foundation for ourselves in which we are freed from unnecessary worries and anxieties regarding the future. And putting in some effort into doing what creates good physical and mental health. This is the foundation which is needed to most fully experience the sweet moments of being alive and the experience of both mental and physical pleasures.

Most importantly is an active "turning toward pleasure" and what feels good and what is enjoyable. Does the experience of the color red, used so often during the holidays, have an enlivening feeling for you? Every year in the month of December many people actively prepare to celebrate Christmas, either as a "secularized" holiday or as a Christian holiday. I'm not on board with big spending to display status or wealth or buying more stuff for the sake of consumption. Instead, I am thinking about the importance of tuning into the body and tuning into the feelings of what makes us as humans enjoy life.

As Epicureans we can choose what feels most pleasurable in this regard as we evaluate our choices and avoidances based on our internal guide of pleasure and pain. The tradition of preparing for Christmas is in a sense a kind of savoring of winter in the lead-up to the Winter Solstice, when we know that the sun will once again begin to move higher and days will begin to lengthen. Actively pursuing the "pleasures of Christmas" is a kind of antidote to the cold, cloudy, rainy or snowy weather and the short days. As Epicureans, we can chose to move through life in pursuit of pleasure year-round (and maybe we need more holidays spread through-out the year).

There are always things surrounding us in which to savor the sights, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches -- even beyond the holiday decorations and holiday treats. We choose to focus on taking in the pleasures of life by opening up our senses and noticing what feels good. This opening up could be considered by some to be  a kind of "spiritual practice" that we can engage in. (And the sense of "spirit" I am refering to is the sense of self and the sense of conscious awareness that we subjectively experience as we are alive). It can be as simple as noticing how good it feels to comb or brush your hair (as it stimulates the blood flow to your scalp).

 So this "art of taking pleasure" is something to put some pleasurable effort into, through contemplation and perhaps talking about it with friends and loved ones -- asking questions, and turning toward and tuning into pleasure. 

Blessed be! May you be blessed by pleasure, this holiday season and every day!