The ability to sense what is happening in the body, a skill known as interoception, varies from person to person. But the good news, for those seeking to【C1】_____overthinking and other problematic behaviors, is that there is substantial【C2】__that interoception can be【C3】_____and that improving it can benefit our mental health.

【C4】_____any kind of physical exercise is likely to improve your mood, the ability to maintain sensory awareness may be the key to【C5】__habit’s grip. An investigation in 2023 tracked brain activity in 22 people who had to【C6】__to their breath.【C7】__, participants tracked either their breath or the pulsing of a circle on a screen. During this task, it【C8】__, following one’s breathing seemed to deactivate the higher cortical functions that researchers【C9】__with “doing” or “problem solving” brain activity. Becoming more【C10】__of one’s body seemed to【C11】_____the brain’s spotlight on other inputs.

In the face of stress, our attention is too often devoted to analyzing why we feel badly, leaving us【C12】_____in the habit of “ managing negativity,” with little【C13】__for insight or novelty in each passing moment.【C14】__, people can engage in what we call “ sense foraging,” or making time to focus on our varied physical sensations. Sticking with sensation【C15】__overthinking’s temptation allows curiosity, novelty and new learning to interrupt established【C16】_____.

To【C17】_____the benefits of sense foraging, we simply need to tune into our【C18】__more frequently.【C19】__we’re stressed or stuck, pausing to notice and feel the dynamic, vibrant world around us can provide a moment’s【C20】_____to our resilience, well-being, health and creativity. Where we go from there is up to us.

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