When I read my Women’s Health Magazine the other day, I came across the term “bliss point” used by food companies. Bliss point describes the “precise amount of ingredients—often sweeteners—that maximizes the appeal of a food product so that people will crave it, buy it, and consume it.” I was struck by not only the term but also the irony of it. If food companies maximize their use of bliss point, people who are overweight or addicted to junk food will remain forever locked in their prison of overeating and cravings. So I think we as a society should commandeer this word. The idea of bliss shouldn’t be locked into a term to be used in such a deceitful way. It defies the very definition of the word “bliss.”
From my own experience I’ve come up with a few areas where I think the term could be put to better use. We could start using it in our everyday vocabularies to describe the wonderful state of these next few examples. See what you think about what I’ve written. I’d love for you to add to this list! Here goes.
Bliss Point for Love: Finding the person who makes me belly laugh, who makes me feel secure in who I am, alone and with him, who believes in me, whose tenderness moves me and makes my heart flutter and makes me long to be with him!
Bliss Point for Children: The moment they feel a surfeit of wonder, their eyes open wide, they laugh with joy and spin in circles because they don’t know what else to do with the pure joy overflowing from within.
Bliss Point in Work: When the day passes in a moment because I’ve enjoyed doing what I’m paid to do, when the boss congratulates me on a project that was my baby, the moment when I can’t believe I get paid to do what I do because I would do it for free I love it so much.
Bliss Point for Sleep: The moment when I find the sweet spot, when all my limbs are heavy and I’m lying in perfect comfort, so much so that even though the sun is rising, I can’t possibly awaken from the most restful sleep I’ve ever had, even to remember the really great dream I had.
Bliss Point in Exercise: That moment in a long run when I hit your stride and running no longer feels like a chore but becomes moving meditation. Love that!
Bliss Point in Writing: The time when words spill forth onto the page without effort, the stars align, and time passes unnoticed. That’s when writing is a joy, a pleasure, a gift.
These are just a few of the areas in life where I think the phrase bliss point should apply. It shouldn’t be used as a way to manipulate us into buying or consuming things we don’t want or need. It should instead be just what it says it is, the point at which we reach bliss—utter joy and happiness. What a wonderful idea!