Practice Delight in Chiropractic Care: A Path to Wellness
As chiropractors, our mission extends beyond mere physical alignment; it’s about fostering holistic wellness for our patients. In these turbulent times, when the weight of the world seems heavier than ever, I want to introduce a transformative concept that has the potential to uplift not only our patients but ourselves as well: the practice of delight.
What is a Delight Practice?
Inspired by Ross Gay’s “The Book of Delights,” the essence of a delight practice is wonderfully simple: make a conscious effort to notice and celebrate moments of delight in your everyday life. It could be anything—a vibrant flower, a shared smile with a stranger, or the whimsical sight of someone playing a trumpet while riding a unicycle. The key is to recognize these moments, lift your arm, raise your index finger, and joyfully exclaim, “Delight!” Sharing these moments with others amplifies the joy.
Why Delight Matters
Amidst current events, feelings of burnout, and looming uncertainties, prioritizing delight might seem frivolous or even irresponsible. However, this practice is far from trivial. Noticing and sharing delightful moments can significantly enhance our mood, outlook, relationships, and physical health.
The Science Behind Delight
Noticing delight requires mindfulness, a crucial element for happiness and satisfaction in an increasingly distracted world. This practice is a form of gratitude, fostering appreciation for life’s positives, which in turn reduces symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress while improving heart health markers.
While traditional gratitude practices can sometimes become repetitive and feel obligatory, a delight practice remains fresh and invigorating. The things that delight us are often novel and unexpected, making this practice continuously rewarding.
Delight and Savoring
Psychologists call this savoring—deliberately appreciating positive life experiences. Savoring has been shown to boost mood and counterbalance our brain’s natural tendency to focus on anxiety-inducing stimuli. The effects are amplified when we label and share these moments, reinforcing positive neural pathways.
Sharing Delight
Sharing delights with others is one of the most impactful aspects of this practice. Start your meetings or consultations by inviting colleagues or patients to share something that delighted them that day. Use delight sharing as an icebreaker or as a ritual before family meals. This practice not only strengthens social bonds but also encourages a collective focus on positivity.
For instance, a friend once sent me a photo of frost crystals on their windshield with the caption “Delight!” This simple act not only brightened my day but also inspired me to find delight in otherwise mundane tasks, like scraping frost off my car.
The Health Benefits
Moments of connection through shared delight are beneficial for our physical health. The Surgeon General’s recent advisory on the nation’s loneliness epidemic highlights that strong social ties reduce risks for high blood pressure, heart disease, cognitive impairment, and more. Loneliness and isolation pose health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
A Call to Action
Imagine if we, as chiropractors and as a community, committed to a delight practice. How might it affect our happiness, health, and even our political climate? By focusing more on what brings us joy and less on what divides us, we can cultivate a more positive and connected society.
This year will undoubtedly bring its share of challenges, but it will also be filled with moments of delight. Let’s resolve to notice and celebrate them. As Ross Gay beautifully puts it, “The more you study delight, the more delight there is to study.”
Embrace this practice of delight, and let it transform your life and the lives of those you touch through your chiropractic care.
