How to Savor Conversations and Feel the Positivity
To savor, is to experience and enjoy, usually in the context of food. But we can also savor experiences, moments, visually compelling events and even types of communication—which is the focus of new research from the University of Arizona.
This research builds on previous positive psychology work showing that people’s ability to “savor” or, recognize and appreciate enjoyable life experiences, can enhance well-being, relationships and overall quality of life.
The act of savoring is all about slowing down the sensory experience, says Maggie Pitts, an associate professor in the communication department in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona who studies the concept of savoring as it relates to human communication.
“First, you feel something pleasant, then you feel pleasant about feeling pleasant, and that is where savoring comes in. It’s not just feeling good; it’s feeling good about feeling good and then trying to trap that feeling,” says Pitts.
The intent of Pitts’ research was to learn how and if people savor verbal and/or nonverbal communication experiences. Using an online survey, she analyzed answers from 65 young adults regarding two aspects: whether they’ve ever savored communication and a detailed example of such an experience. Through this survey, she found seven different types of communication that people tend to savor:
- Aesthetic communication
- Communication presence
- Nonverbal communication
- Recognition and acknowledgment
- Relational communication
- Extraordinary communication
- Implicitly shared communication
Pitts learned that retroactive and anticipatory savoring can be just as beneficial as savoring in the moment. Even thinking about a past savory conversation can induce a physiological savoring experience.
“You can time travel through savoring,” she says. “I can sit here now and think of something that happened earlier today or yesterday or 25 years ago, and when I recall that savoring moment, I physiologically experience savoring, and that makes me feel relaxed and puts me in a good mood and can really boost my moment.” She continues, “There’s also this idea of anticipatory savoring. People do this when they plan for a vacation or a honeymoon or the weekend. We anticipate and we have that good feeling that helps us in the moment.”
Pitts plans to expand this research using adults over 35 and international populations next.
How do you improve savoring and reap the benefits associated with it? Be more open and present, according to Pitts.
“If you notice you’re experiencing something pleasant, think about what it is that’s pleasant,” says Pitts, “Connect it to other pleasant experiences. Why is it good? What could make it even better? It is a practice, and it takes practice, but anyone can do it.”
Savannah Patton
Savannah Patton is the ICF Communications Assistant and a freelance writer for Kentucky Sports Radio. She graduated in May 2016 from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor's degree in Integrated Strategic Communications with a focus in Public Relations.
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