How Our Senses Shape Our Understanding

Dear readers, ever thought about how much our senses shape the way we understand the world? The concept of embodied cognition suggests that our thoughts and feelings aren’t just happening in our brains; they’re closely tied to our physical interactions with the world around us.

This very concept of embodied cognition resonates deeply with me — not just as an academic interest but as a lens through which I analyse my own experiences and those of others.

I come to understand that our life weaves through our senses—sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell — each thread contributing to the tapestry of who we are and how we relate to the world.

The concept of embodied cognition beautifully underscores how our physical experiences influence our thoughts, behaviours, and emotions.

But it goes even deeper than the mechanics of awareness; it taps into the very essence of our humanity, evoking a powerful call for kindness and compassion in our interconnected lives.

As I reflect on my childhood, a kaleidoscope of sensory memories comes to my mind – the warmth of the sun on my skin when I played at the playground, the bittersweet scent of rain on dry earth, the gentle touch of my beloved mum and dad’s hand, and the cacophony of laughter mingled with tears.

Yet, amid these joyful sensations, there lay shadows. For many years at my young age, I bore the scars of childhood abuse at the age of 5, hidden behind a brave face.

The physical and emotional pain shaped me in ways I struggle to articulate. Those moments of fear altered how I understood love, connection, and even my own self-worth.

Through my experience, I now think that for people, especially children, sensory experiences are critical to understanding themselves and their environment.

When violent encounters, harsh words, or neglect enter the picture, a child’s grasp of compassion, safety, and self-love warps.

As people grow up, these early experiences mould their perspectives toward themselves and others. That sense of touch—once comforting and inviting — can become fraught with anxiety and distrust.

For many, the taste of home, community and belonging is soured by trauma, manifested in defensive behaviour, anger, or withdrawal. This cycle can perpetuate, affecting not only individuals but also those around them.

For me, these experiences are more than just fleeting moments, they are the foundations of my understanding of the world, woven intricately into the fabric of who I am today and who I am to become.

Through the lens of embodied cognition, I have come to understand that our senses gifted by God are not mere instruments; they shape our thoughts, our beliefs, and ultimately, our sense of worth.

When we touch, smell, see, hear, or taste, we absorb and interpret these sensations, using them to navigate our emotional landscapes.

One poignant lesson I learned about embodied cognition comes from often hidden scars caused by my childhood trauma. As we navigate life, our senses prepare us to respond to the world—but they can also lean towards hurt.

A sudden sound can trigger memories of fear or joy, causing a cascade of emotions and reactions which we might not even realize are rooted in our past.

It distorts our self-image and colours the way we engage with others and ourselves. I recall the feelings of confusion, betrayal, and an overwhelming sense of unworthiness that clouded my life.

I remember the taste of fear as it seeped into my every interaction, tainting the sweetness of joy and love. The truth is harrowing — abuse inflicted by an adult on a child is a violation not just of trust, but of humanity.

The weight of those experiences shaped my understanding of relationships, making it difficult to trust or to allow myself to be truly vulnerable…

In a world that should be safe and welcoming, we often recoil, feeling as though we do not belong. This disconnect is not just psychological; it reverberates through our very bodies.

We learn to mask our feelings, to hide our scars. Our self-worth wanes and we often feel as if we are less than those around us.

After my deeper understanding towards life, this cycle of trauma does not only affect me, the survivor. It also reverberates through the lives of those who inflict harm. They, too, are often products of their own unresolved experiences and emotional pain, trapped in a cycle of disconnection and misunderstanding.

Here comes the question, how shall we reshape or reform our understanding of our world? The answer is through God’s loving grace, through practising kindness that can often start from home.

Acts of kindness can lead to significant positive changes in the brain’s neural pathways, contributing to a more compassionate environment.

Engaging in acts of kindness triggers the release of neurotransmitters like oxytocin (often referred to as the “love hormone”), serotonin, and dopamine.

These chemicals enhance mood and general well-being, reinforcing the behaviour and encouraging individuals to engage in more kind actions. This cycle can establish a positive feedback loop, making kindness the more frequent choice.

Repeated acts of kindness can create and strengthen neural pathways associated with empathy, compassion, and altruism thus fostering a culture of compassion.

When I recall my own healing journey, it became clear to me that understanding my experiences with child abuse led me to better understand others.

By taking stock of my sensory experiences — the sounds of laughter when I dared to invite new friendships in at my young age, the bright colours on canvas as I began to paint my emotions, the warmth of human connection as I embraced vulnerability — I learned to nurture my own self-worth. Maintaining this connection to my senses allowed me to rebuild parts of my shattered identity.

Dear readers, imagine a world where vulnerability was celebrated and addressed with compassion. What if every child is guided toward understanding their worth, taught that their senses are not just tools, but pathways to understanding themselves and the world?

If we nurture kindness from an early age, we might be able to foster self-worth and a connection to others, breaking the chains of trauma that bind too many of us.

Every one of us holds the responsibility to care for not just our bodies, minds, and souls, but also for the bodies, minds, and souls of those around us. Kindness can be a balm to wounds often left unseen.

Dear readers, as we navigate our lives, let us embrace the concept of embodied cognition not simply as an academic principle but as a call to action — a reminder of our shared responsibility to be loving citizens.
Let us create spaces where all senses can flourish, where people are reminded of their worth, and above all, where kindness begins its ripple, touching hearts in ways unimaginable. I strongly believe, in God’s Grace, we can be the love this world so desperately needs.

As we wrap up our exploration of embodied cognition, let us think about how our senses play a pivotal role in shaping not only our understanding but also our memories. Join me next time as we dive into “Sensory Memory: How Senses Shape Our Recollections.”

We’ll explore intriguing examples and find out just how our sensory experiences influence our memories, altering them or even creating new ones altogether.

Let us uncover this sensory tapestry together and see how it colours the canvas of our minds and thus flavours the beatings of our hearts.

‘Embodied cognition suggests that how we think is deeply affected by our physical bodies and how we interact with the world.’ – By Lawrence Shapiro (1955-Present). He is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, United States. His research is dedicated to the intricate field of philosophy of psychology, with additional expertise in the philosophy of mind and philosophy of biology.

The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.