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An ancient proverb says, “The senses are the gateway to the soul”, which encapsulates my wish for this year. This proverb resonates deeply with my aspiration to share my journey through the “Life Senses” column as our senses are the doorway to the world. Through them, we connect and create.
As a writer, it feels both a privilege and a responsibility to explore life’s nuances and provide insights drawn from my experiences, with the hope that they resonate with you, dear reader.
As the year 2025 unfolds before us, I find myself reflecting on the essence of my writing and the impact I wish to create. Since the inception of the Life Senses column in January 2024, where I compiled my articles, it has become a vessel for sharing my humble experiences from my encounters with life, art, and spirituality. “Life Senses” encapsulates what I want to communicate: the intrinsic connection between our sensory experiences and how we navigate the world.
The purpose of writing the Life Senses column is multifaceted. Primarily, it serves as a path for me to share stories and insights, derived from my life experiences, intuitive paintings, heartful poetry, and the profound realizations that come from integrating the five senses with deeper understanding. I hope to inspire readers to recognize and value their senses, and in doing so, cultivate a more artful and mindful existence.
In this artistic endeavour, I envision providing a framework for readers that encourages self-reflection and personal growth. The sharing in this column is for everyone who seeks to enhance their connection with life elevate their experiences and embrace the beautiful complexities of human existence. Each article not only reveals my reflections but also aims to plant seeds of thought that can grow into valuable insights for readers.
To recap, “Life Senses” is rooted in my journey of self-discovery by God’s grace, which began with my book which features 54 intuitive paintings paired with 54 accompanying poems. This project sprang to life unexpectedly in 2005, a gift of grace from God that allowed me to express my emotions through intuitive art. It was a journey sparked not by meticulous planning or expectation but rather by a genuine intention: to find inspiration through moments of relaxation and pondering and focus on the act of creation. Each brushstroke became a sense-charged experience, a portal to a deeper awareness of my growth and surroundings.
Through the years, I have realised how vital it is to acknowledge the connection of our senses to our daily lives. Our decisions are often influenced by our feelings, which are inherently derived from our senses. Therefore, understanding and nurturing these connections can directly impact our quality of life as this is very much related to our feelings. Our daily choices are often driven by feelings, which are deeply rooted in our sensory experiences. By consciously developing our senses, we can create a more vibrant and fulfilling life. By living mindfully, appreciating and being thankful for our senses, we can turn ordinary moments into extraordinary beauty.
The idea that we can live artfully, tapping into our gifted senses and transforming them into a four-dimensional experience through the lens of the four seasons, has become central to my message.
Dear friend and reader of Sarawak Tribune, let’s delve into the meaning behind the concepts of emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual well-being. These domains have undergone significant evolution over time. Drawing from my 18-year tenure as the executive president of a Cancer Hospital in Guangzhou and Hainan, China, I now understand that these aspects are closely linked to holistic health practices. It’s important to note that these ideas have not originated from a single author or concept but have been shaped through contributions from diverse disciplines such as psychology, philosophy, and health sciences.
Allow me to share further, based on information and experiences I have gathered and learned in the past, that emotional sense is the concept of emotional well-being. Understanding feelings has roots in psychology and was influenced by figures like Sigmund Freud and Carl Rogers, among others. Whereas physical sense, physical health and bodily awareness are fundamental aspects of medical and health sciences. The importance of physical well-being has been recognized for centuries in both Western and Eastern medicine.
Spiritual Sense as the sense of purpose and spirituality is a concept found in many religious and philosophical traditions. Thinkers like Viktor Frankl, with his work on meaning and purpose in life, played a role in modern understanding.
Intellectual Sense, the idea of mental stimulation and knowledge, can be traced to the work of ancient philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, and continues through modern educational theories.
These senses are often integrated into models like the Wheel of Life which includes various dimensions of our existence. These models are widely used in education or programs related to personal development, health education and holistic wellness practices that encourage a balanced lifestyle.
Well, let us explore further the four dimensions of senses that I believe are paramount to our existence:
Emotional Sense – This dimension involves our feelings and emotional well-being. It’s about tuning in to our emotional landscapes and recognizing how they shape our interactions with the world. Emotional awareness fosters empathy, understanding, and deeper connections with those around us.
Physical Sense – This sense pertains to our bodily awareness and physical health. Nurturing our bodies is essential to leading a fulfilling life. Listening to what our bodies need — be it rest, nourishment, or movement — can significantly affect our overall well-being.
Spiritual Sense – This refers to our sense of purpose and spirituality, which can be nurtured through religion, nature, or personal beliefs. It brings fulfilment and clarity by inspiring us to find meaning in our actions and fostering a connection to something larger than ourselves.
Intellectual Sense – This dimension is about mental stimulation and the pursuit of knowledge. Engaging our minds with valuable matters keeps us vibrant and adaptable. It involves curiosity, learning, and the passion for exploring new ideas or experiences.
As I embark on this new year of sharing, my first topic in the Life Senses column will be “Wheel of Life.” I will begin by exploring how life senses connect us to our lives. This section will encapsulate key components such as cultivating good relationships and engaging with our family, social life, connections with God, nature, work, health, wealth and education. It’s about promoting harmony with all aspects of life, including our health and well-being, as well as our intellectual pursuits.
I am excited about this journey and hope to grow with each of you to reflect on our senses, both in solitude and in connection with others. As we delve into these topics over the next twelve months, I encourage you to embrace this opportunity for introspection and discovery.
Dear readers, let us step together into the rich tapestry of our experiences, weaving them with intention and savouring each moment with heightened awareness.
In closing, my ardent wish and prayer for this year is to cultivate an ongoing connection through the Life Senses column, where we can explore the intricate relationships we maintain with ourselves and the world around us. I humbly invite you to join me on this very journey of a life well-examined, as we navigate the complexities and beauty of our life senses, fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to live artfully and authentically with purpose. Let us gather next week as we launch into our first topic of Life Senses 3.0, the Wheel of Life, as part of our four seasons of life senses, uncovering the depths of our senses and illuminating our paths toward a more fulfilling existence.
QUOTE PHOTO: Viktor Frankl
QUOTE: ‘When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning, they distract themselves with pleasure.’ – Viktor Frankl (1905–1997). He was a distinguished Austrian neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor, credited with the establishment of logotherapy, a renowned school of psychotherapy that posits the pursuit of life’s meaning as the primary driving force in human behaviour.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
