Movies and media teach us what pleasure should look and feel like. When our own experience doesn’t match what we are told, it makes us feel frustrated and broken.

It’s time to let go of all the "shoulds", and look to our own bodies, to learn what pleasure means to US. Just like we don’t all like the same food, the same paintings, and the same kinds of vacation, your pleasure is unique.

The only place you can learn about it is in your own body.

How to maximize pleasure:

1. Name it. You have to identify something as pleasure before you can feel it fully. It becomes intentional and your conscious mind gets on board. It will help you "squeeze" more joy out of the experience.

2. Relax and sloooooow things down. Stress has build in urgency. When you slow down, you open your ability to feel.

3. Engage your senses. They bring you to the present moment and help you enjoy what is here. Use them all. See, hear, touch, smell, taste. Let your senses delight you.

4. Know your breaks and accelerators. What turns you on may be completely different from what shuts you down, not just be the opposite. You may get turned off by loud noises, but quiet space may not be enough to make you feel amazing. Decrease pleasure breaks and increase the accelerators.

We often get praised and rewarded for how much adversity we can handle. I am inviting you to equally expand your range and capacity for pleasure. Life is not just about doing, accomplishing, and striving.

Pleasure is not like air. We won't die without it, but it makes a difference between survival and thriving.

To thrive, pleasure is absolutely essential.

And we want you to thrive, so make this summer an adventure into your own sensual nature. And grab the CareBar to delight you on the way.

Enjoy!