Savoring
The Art of Amplifying Positive Experiences
Key Researchers: Fred Bryant, Joseph Veroff, Sonja Lyubomirsky
What is Savoring?
Savoring is the ability to consciously attend to and amplify positive experiences. Developed by Fred Bryant and Joseph Veroff, savoring goes beyond simply having positive experiences — it involves deliberately prolonging and intensifying the enjoyment. While coping helps us manage negative experiences, savoring helps us maximize positive ones.
Three Temporal Forms
- Anticipatory savoring: Looking forward to upcoming positive events
- In-the-moment savoring: Fully immersing in present positive experiences
- Reminiscent savoring: Reliving past positive experiences through memory
The Research
Bryant's research shows that people who savor regularly report 50% higher life satisfaction than those who don't, regardless of how many positive events they actually experience. The ability to savor is distinct from the frequency of positive events — it's not about having more good things happen but about getting more from the good things that do happen.
Savoring Strategies
Sharing positive experiences with others amplifies their impact by up to 3x. Taking mental photographs, expressing gratitude, and deliberately slowing down during pleasant moments all enhance savoring. The key enemy of savoring is multi-tasking — you cannot savor what you are not paying attention to.
Practical Exercises
Daily Savoring Walk
Take a 15-minute walk focused entirely on noticing beauty. Stop at three points to fully absorb a pleasant sight, sound, or sensation.
Savoring Album
Take one photo per day of something that brings you joy. At week's end, review all seven and relive each moment.
Gratitude Amplification
When something good happens, pause for 30 seconds. Notice where you feel the pleasure in your body. Tell someone about it. Write it down.
Flow State, Eudaimonic Well-Being, PERMA Model
Stay Inspired
Get a daily dose of positivity delivered to your inbox.