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This step is a pivotal point in your life. You are aware of your anxiety, depression, and fear. However, you are ready to step away from the mindset that has convinced you that this is what you should feel. You recognize that there is more to life than just existing, and you’re ready to reacquaint yourself with the things you used to enjoy.

Reacquaintance is the first step.  And even though you are ready, the old mindset wants to hold you back. Therefore, you might need a little nudge to make this process easier.

Let’s start here:

We have already established that the first step is the most difficult, but it is also the most important. For this reason, we will start with something familiar yet beneficial. We’ll start with the five senses:

• Sight
• Sound
• Smell
• Touch
• Taste

Make a list of five things you enjoy for each category. These should be things you can access or are within your reach to explore.

For example:

Sight: 

1. favorite movie
2. beautiful landscape (oceans, mountains, large open fields, etc.)
3. waves of an ocean
4. artist at work
5. interesting places you would like to visit

Below are some things to consider from the five choices above to help create a more enjoyable experience.

Favorite movie – Who are the actors? Do you enjoy some of their other work? What are some of your favorite lines or scenes? Do you find yourself humming or singing along with the songs you hear? How are the actors or scenes playing out with the soundtrack? Does watching this movie bring back any special memories?

Beautiful landscape – Ask yourself what makes this landscape more beautiful than any other.  Are there mountains, a body of water, a large field of grass, or trees?  What colors do you see? Are the colors a mixture of yellow, orange, or red? Do these warm colors make you feel happy, optimistic, or energized? Or do you see a blend of blue, green, or purple? Do these cool colors make you feel calm and relaxed? Does this landscape remind you of a pleasant memory from your childhood?

Waves of an ocean – Think about the effect of the wind blowing over the water’s surface.  How do the thousands of ripples make you feel? Does the ocean’s distant horizon give you a sense of freedom without boundaries? What thoughts come to mind as the ocean waves crash against the shore, the moist gritty sand as it squishes between your toes, the smell of salt that blows in from off the water, or the happy sound of children as they run playful circles on the beach or build castles in the sand?

Artist at work – Is this an oil painter expressing a mastery of colors across a blank canvas or a sculptor chiseling a detailed piece of work from a block of stone or a mound of clay?  Consider the patience and skill required to achieve their masterpiece. What thoughts or emotions does their creative process evoke?

Interesting places you would like to visit  – Is the setting historical, scientific, cultural, rural, etc.? What types of food are offered? Is there a theme? If so, are there engaging activities related? Is there an opportunity to purchase souvenirs or other interesting pieces of memorabilia? Are you inclined to capture the moment with your camera? Does this place offer educational or solely entertainment value?

Do the same for the other four senses: 

Sound: 

1. favorite genre of music
2. interesting guest speaker
3. buzzing and pounding of tools
4. captivating audible book
5. sounds of nature

Smell:

1. citrus fruit
2. flowers in bloom
3. freshly mowed lawn
4. hot buttered popcorn
5. savory herbs and spices

Touch:

1. cozy blanket
2. comfortable pair of slippers
3. modeling clay
4. sand that squishes between your toes
5. warm bubble bath

Taste:

1. marinara sauce
2. apple pie hot from the oven
3. herbal tea
4. fresh fruit
5. ranch or honey mustard

Now that you have reacquainted yourself with the things you enjoy—choose something from your list that you would like to try. Perhaps you can even mix and match.  For example: 

• Indulge your senses with a warm bubble bath, fragrant candles, mani-pedi, facial, soothing music, and your choice of a healthy snack.
• Enjoy a fresh fruit salad while listening to a captivating audible book in the park.
• Search for different dance styles online and dance with your favorite music genre.
• Take on a carpentry project at home, like building a cabinet, desk, or chair.
• Check online or community boards for a guest speaker speaking on a topic of interest.
• Enjoy a stroll on a nature trail and take lots of scenic pictures along the way.
• Set the scene with soft lights and your favorite music genre, and explore the many culinary possibilities you can create from the ingredients you have on hand.
• Choose an exciting location from the Discovery or Travel Channel and enjoy it with a delicious pasta dish, a glass of herbal tea, and a cozy blanket.
• Turn your oven into a kiln and create some ceramic pieces of art that uniquely express you.
• Try your hand a reupholstering a sofa, armchair, or ottoman. 

Or perhaps, you don’t need a list. Revisit your talents or natural gifts you haven’t used in a while. Test the limits of your imagination through creative writing. If you’re looking for more hands-on ideas, try quilting, varnishing, or a musical instrument.

The idea is to try things that do not require the social expectations of interacting in a one-on-one setting with others. This step is to help you get reacquainted with you.