Over the years, in all the books that have been inquired about happiness, none of them mentioned that happiness may be hidden in my closet or cupboard. On the contrary, most experts believe that joy is not around us, but in our hearts. This view originates from the ancient philosophical tradition. The teaching of Buddhism is that happiness only comes from giving up attachment to worldly things. Philosophers in ancient Greece also put forward similar teaching, self-denial and strict control of their own thoughts. Modern psychology also accepts this inward-looking view, thinking that if life is to be happy, it is necessary to change our view of the world and the environment. From chanting and meditation to treatment and habit change, it is generally recognized that true joy depends on the function of the heart, not on material things.
But I have noticed that many times, people seem to find real joy in the material world. When people stare at their favorite paintings in art galleries or build sand castles on the beach, they smile and forget themselves. People will smile when they see the orange sky at sunset and the long-haired dog wearing a bee costume. It seems that people can not only find happiness around them, but also many people try their best to make their environment more pleasant. They take care of the rose garden, put candles on the birthday cake, and decorate the lights at festivals. If these things won't actually affect their happiness, why should they do them?
Happiness that can be found and grasped. Now some studies have confirmed that there is a clear correlation between the surrounding environment and our mental health. For example, research shows that people in bright workplaces sleep better and laugh more than people in dimly lit offices. Besides, flowers can not only make people feel better, but also improve their memory. When I delved deeper into these studies, joy became tangible and real for me at first, instead of being so intangible and abstract. It doesn't seem so difficult to get joy. It doesn't have to go through years of introspection or very self-discipline to achieve it. On the contrary, I began to see the world as a treasure house full of positive energy, ready for me to use at any time.
Joy is not hard to find. In fact, it's all around us.
This simple truth has changed my life. When I started to share with others, I found that many people wanted to seek happiness around them, but it was considered that such efforts seemed wrong. A lady told me that buying flowers can make her feel happy for several days, but she thinks it is a luxury, so she only buys it on special occasions. It never occurred to her that the cost of seeing a psychologist once a week was enough for her to buy herself a bunch of flowers every two weeks for a year. Another woman described that when she walked into the living room and repainted it, she suddenly felt, "Huh? There is a feeling of relaxation and lightness, which makes her wonder how she delayed painting for so long. I have found that we all instinctively want to look for joy around us, but we are taught to ignore this feeling. What will happen if we reawaken this instinct for joy?
A friend told me that one summer afternoon, on her way home from work, it suddenly rained cats and dogs. She ran to shelter from the rain under the awning beside the road, and a group of people who didn't bring umbrellas also hid from the rain. Everyone was wondering how long it would rain. After a few minutes, the rain stopped, and everyone began to walk on the sidewalk. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Look! "A gorgeous rainbow crossed directly above the Empire State Building. People stopped to look at the rainbow, their clothes were wet and stuck to their bodies, but their faces showed big smiles.
This kind of story may take place on a cold or hot and humid day, it may be a friend or stranger, and a rainbow may appear at a concert, on the top of a mountain or on a sailboat. But it seems that no matter where it appears, the rainbow makes people feel happy. I began to list these things that I heard repeatedly: beach balls and fireworks, swimming pools and tree houses, eye-catching in hot air balloons and American art materials, and sundaes sprinkled with colored sugar granules. These pleasures span age, gender and race. They will not only please a few people, but almost everyone.
One day when I was studying pictures, I suddenly had a flash of light. I saw lollipops, wool balls and polka dots, and I finally understood that they are all round! Although the feeling of joy is mysterious and short-lived, we can get close to it through tangible and substantive characteristics.
Specifically, this is what designers call aesthetic feeling-defining the characteristics of the appearance and feeling of an object-and this aesthetic feeling will make us feel happy.
Before that, I always thought that beauty was decorative and even a little unrealistic. I study design in the hope that what I do can improve people's lives. I have been persistent in finding ways to make products ergonomic, practical and environmentally friendly. Although I like those courses that use colors and materials, shapes and dynamics, I regard them as extra elements, not the most important core elements. Although we pay considerable attention to aesthetic feeling, we should not pay too much attention to aesthetic feeling or pay too much attention to appearance. Doing so seems to be superficial.
However, when I look at these photos, I realize that they are not only decorations, but also trigger deep emotional reactions. I always * * identify ten kinds of aesthetic feelings that will lead to joy, and each kind of aesthetic feeling shows that the feeling of joy is clearly related to the tangible characteristics around life. These ten aesthetic feelings are:
Energy: bright colors and light.
Abundance: lush, abundant and diverse.
Freedom: Nature, the wild and the open space.
Harmony: Balance, Symmetry and Flow
Play: The shapes of circles, spheres and bubbles.
Surprise: contrast, whimsy and oddity.
Transition: a sense of rising and lightness.
Magic: Invisible Power and Fantasy
Celebration: synchronous action, shining and radiating.
Regeneration: bloom, Expansion and Curve.
In the end, we don't want you to go to the ends of the earth to pursue joy, but to start from where you are and discover more joy.
There are all kinds of things that make people happy. You don't need to learn methods, and you don't need to strictly restrain yourself. The only condition you have is to open your heart and explore the joy around you.
The power of joy is that a small moment can cause great changes. Funny clothes may make people smile, inspire occasional goodwill towards strangers, and unexpectedly comfort a struggling soul.
Even the smallest act of joy will gradually increase with time, and soon, not only some people will become more happy, but the world can really become a world full of joy.