In our busy world, stopping to smell the roses or the flowers or noticing the small things seems to have taken a back seat.
What does it really mean? And how can it help us make better choices and become better versions of ourselves?
What does Stopping to Smell The Roses really mean?
If you look at the photograph at the top of this post, you will see a woman smelling a bunch of roses.
If you were to describe her, how would you describe her?
- Does she look stressed? Or does she look calm?
- Does she look distracted? Or does she look present?
- Does she look like she can’t wait for the moment to end? Or does she look like lingering here is the most important thing in the world?
Stopping to smell the roses can mean just taking the time to slow down and notice.
To use more of your senses than you normally do. You may notice the roses, but do you really see them?
What senses do you use the most?
In this example the obvious senses you can use are your:
- Sight – to see the fine details, notice the colours, the shapes of the petals, the buds versus the open flowers, the pollen on the stamen and the leaves with all their intricate veins.
- Touch – you can feel the smoothness of the stems and the pricks of the thorns, you can touch the delicate velvety petals and the stronger leaves with a shiny smooth side and a rougher underside.
- Smell – you can smell the gentle, uplifting aroma of the rose and if you take the time, you may be able to distinguish the smell from the petals and the different aromas coming from the stamens.
And as you read that, did you imagine yourself noticing all these things – and just for a moment, did you slow down at the thought of savouring this rose.
Noticing it, in all its glory. Noticing with wonderment and awe at how truly beautiful it is, not just to look at, but to touch and smell.
What more could you notice?
And, as you stop and wonder, do you ask yourself any questions?
Do you want to know if a rose makes sounds? And if you listen carefully enough, could you hear it? And if it does make a sound, what does it mean?
Or what is the purpose of this rose?
And do you get any insights in just thinking about stopping to smell the next rose you see?
In the photography the lady has her eyes closed, is this rose taking her back to a time in her life?
Does the smell from the rose, transport her to a time of joy, of peace, of total fulfilment?
Or maybe she is imagining a time in the future where she will smell a rose and it will remind her of this moment when she stopped and noticed something truly magical.
How can you use this in your daily life?
Stopping to smell the roses is all about noticing what you don’t normally notice. It’s about using all or at least more of your senses than you normally do.
It can be a really quick and easy way of dropping into calmness. Dropping into being present in the moment. Noticing and being aware of the things you might not be seeing, hearing, feeling in the moment.
Could you just for a moment, stop and notice what is around you?
The next time you see a beautiful flower in nature. Stop for a moment and notice all you can about it.
What is the smallest thing you can notice or be aware of?
The icing on the cake!
And as a final step, I like to just be so grateful for the opportunity to notice, to stop, to take a moment, to acknowledge the beauty and mystery.
To appreciate everything that it took for that beautiful piece of nature to be right here, right now and that it was there for a reason.
The purpose of that flower was to help me to slow down, to appreciate, to become more aware even for a moment, in my life.
What a wonder!
And in that state, do you think the world might look different?
- Do you think that you may be more open to making decisions?
- Do you think you may be kinder to someone else?
- Could you notice something your spouse isn’t saying?
- Might you notice something your child wants you to notice, but you didn’t have the awareness to notice before?
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Until next time
LIVE LOVE THRIVE