Here are my conclusions. High sensation-seeking is like any
other personality trait or any other tool. It can be positive or nega-
tive depending on how you use it. In the end (and I’m shocked to
admit this), I think the good probably outweighs the bad. High
sensation-seekers do incredible things – things most of us would
never dream of doing – and they love it. That’s not such a bad way to
live your life.
It’s also not a way I want to live my life. Lots of HSSs tried to
convince me I should be a high sensation-seeker too. “Don’t you
want to know what it feels like?” Not really. I’m not an HSS. It’s not
my thing. You can keep the crazy stunts, radical social interactions,
and even the wild food. It’s not for me. I have no desire at all to
bungee jump or do extreme snowboarding or race cars or engage in
virtually any of the other behaviors you have read about in this
book. Zero. None. Not at all interested. Not even in the slightest.
But what if you aren’t a high sensation-seeker? Is there
something we can learn from them? Yes! A lot. Here are three that
stand out.- Go with the flow. Sensation-seekers are often trying to
achieve a “flow state.” We know that flow is healthy for
us. It helps us to enjoy life, and be cheerful, satisfied,
creative, and have higher self-esteem. It also fends off
stress. Flow also enhances learning, which could come
in handy for thrill-seekers and pretty much everyone
else. But you don’t have to leap from tall buildings to
engage in flow. There are plenty of average and even low
sensation-seeking experiences that will help you to
envelop in your own flow-inducing activities including
playing or listening to music, engaging in physical activ-
ities, or gardening. - Feel the awe. We know that high sensation-seekers col-
lect awe inducing experiences. They know what creates
awe for them and they are experts at gathering those
experiences. They drain interleukin-6 and fill their
minds, body, and sprit with that awe. If scaling buildings
gives you more anxiety than awe, you can find that sense
of awe in activities that are closer to the ground. For me
it’s art, nature, and sunrises. - Try new things. Not liking something isn’t the worst
thing that can happen to you. When some average and
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