How to Find Beauty in Life

Life is mostly made up of routines and patterns. Every day we act them out and they are what make up the bulk of our lives. Many of us live according to a socially acceptable template, within the realm of safety, while living repetitively and dreaming of ways to escape.

I used to revolt against these routines. I saw them as the enemy of adventure and of living a spontaneous life. However, I’ve found that routines can be quite blissful. I’ve realized that every day events and what we would commonly classify as “normal”, is often extraordinary if you just take a closer look.

I’ve discovered that even if you’re not exactly where you’d like to be, that doesn’t mean that life right now can’t be beautiful or enjoyable. And the best part is, you don’t have to do anything to make it beautiful. It already is beautiful.
All you have to do is open your eyes.

Seeing Things Differently

We are constantly surrounded by miracles, but we do not recognize them because they come to us so gracefully and seamlessly.

For example, have you ever thought about how many different processes have to be organized simply to create the experience you’re having right now? Imagine if all of that was a conscious effort. Imagine if you had to think about breathing, or think about listening to music. You don’t, it just happens. Isn’t that amazing?

Now multiply that by a trillion. Every breath, every movement, and every condition that’s creating the possibility for you to be alive right now is a miracle.

We often get inundated with our To-Do lists, or get caught up in the drama of things that aren’t really important. Realizing that beauty exists in every moment is possible; it simply takes a way of seeing things a bit differently.

Boredom due to routine is a creation of the mind. In reality, there are no ordinary or extraordinary moments. There is beauty everywhere. If you truly understand this, you can look at any ordinary object and find beauty in its existence. You can see a pile of rotting compost and realize that within that organic waste is the possibility of a garden of flowers.

I’ve found that there are a few easy shifts that need to take place, in order to create a state of constant awareness of how amazing life is. Most of the time we only catch a glimpse of how amazing things really are before we get sucked back into the monotony of our routines. We lose mindfulness.

In order to make awareness of beauty a permanent fixture in your life, you need to practice being mindful and aware. I don’t claim that practicing these principles is easy, but the benefits are worthwhile when we bring consciousness into our daily existence.

1. Practice Listening

One of the biggest blocks to recognizing all of life’s extraordinary moments is that we often don’t stop to listen. We’re too busy talking to ourselves. If we’re thinking all the time, we’re living entirely in a world of symbols. We’re living in a world of abstractions about reality; words that describe, label, and categorize things. This can be a wonderful tool for communication, but it can also be a curse when it gets out of control.

If we’re always thinking, we’re never in a relationship with reality. In order to become intimate with life, we need to listen. Imagine that every time you interacted with someone, you were the only one talking. There would be no communication, because you never gave the other person a chance to speak. It works the same way when you’re communicating with life.

Instead of thinking all the time and getting lost in your own thoughts, slow down and just listen. Put your focus on listening. When you find that you are drifting away in your own thoughts, gently bring your focus back to listening.

2. Practice Non-Judgment

Have you ever noticed that when you judge other people, it immediately puts you in a negative mood?

Usually, the judgments we make are because other people aren’t conforming to our version of the way we would live. Everyone’s values are different, and that’s what makes life interesting. While there are some justifiable judgments you can make, they’re still, ultimately, not worth it.

Compassion is a better vehicle for change than judgment.

The next time you’re about to make a judgment, try to practice compassion instead.

Let your feeling of needing to judge be a reminder for you to practice compassion. That way, your negativity will be transformed into peace.

Beauty is experienced through a state of peace, never through a state of condemnation. And yes, non-judgment also means to stop complaining.

3. Open Your Heart

If you’re like me and you’re pretty left-brained, you might be thinking, “Okay that’s nice, but how exactly do I open my heart?”

Opening your heart is a matter of accepting yourself and life as it is. It’s a matter of forgiving yourself and others. It’s letting go of all your resistance to the flow of life and the flow of circumstances.

If you want to take action to change something, that’s fine. But it doesn’t make any sense to resist what is already a reality. Surrender to this moment, accept things and people as they are, and your heart will begin to open.

Tips for Daily Living

What all of these things have in common is presence. The more you’re living in the present moment, the more bliss you allow to come into your life. If you’re always living in the future, always seeking something, you’re rejecting what Is – you’re never actually here to experience the miracle of life, right now.

If you can just practice these three things, your life will start to transform dramatically. You’ll begin to tap into your inner integrity and live authentically. You can’t live in acceptance and not be authentic. And if you’re living authentically, you naturally move into a state of bliss. See where this is leading?

The three practices I’ve mentioned above are the primary catalysts for opening yourself up to how wonderful life can be. There are, however, many other practical things you can do that will help you become more aligned with these principles.

Here are a few suggestions:

Find beauty in the little things. It’s amazing to me how when I stop the incessant mental chatter, and actually just see things, I am blown away by how beautiful they are. The trees swaying, the leaves blowing around on the ground, the waves crashing on the shore. The simplest of things have the most profound beauty. But you can only see them if you’re really there. If your mind is brooding, if you’re off somewhere else, you’ll completely miss them.
Embrace your artistry. If you think you’re not a creative person, I’m here to respectably tell you – you’re wrong. You couldn’t not create, even if you wanted to. Every time you open your mouth, every story you tell yourself about the drama in your life, is an act of creation. You’re constantly shaping, reinventing, and writing the story of your life. Once you recognize this, it’s much more powerful for you to see yourself as an artist, rather than a non-creative person. So the question is: What story will you create today?
Live without limits. Some limits are positive and necessary (like speed limits), but a lot of the limits we place on our lives block us from experiencing our full potential. Arbitrary limits, like fearing to reach out to a homeless person or talk to strangers, restrict the flow of love in our lives.
Realize that beauty can be found in the most mundane. Beauty is not always realized through a life-changing moment or a great epiphany. It’s not always hidden in a rainbow, in an earth-shattering orgasm, or found skydiving at 5,000 feet above the ground. Beauty is often found through looking into a newborn’s eyes, in the blooming of a flower, or in paint peeling off an old fence. It’s often where you least expect it.
See for the first time. Sometimes we get bogged down in schedules and obligations, and we lose our sense of wonder about the simple joys of life. Just quieting yourself internally and opening yourself up to an experience can allow you to view it again for the very first time. When you’re listening to music, imagine that you might have not been born with the ability to hear. When you reach out to touch someone, think about how many people don’t have use of their limbs. When you observe your surroundings, imagine you’re seeing color for the first time.
Live intimately with life. The next time you have a drink of coffee or tea, completely take in the smell and the flavor of the beverage. When you breathe, feel the air enter your lungs. When you walk, really feel the ground beneath your feet. The amount of beauty you experience in life is largely related to your level of intimacy with life. If you’re walking around disconnected, you overlook the wealth of artistry that is available to you right now.
Make your passion a priority. It’s easy to get wrapped up in doing all of the things that we think must get done. Wanting everything to be perfect gets in the way of having time for the things you really care about. While the errands and things on your to-do list might be necessary, it’s important to make the things you love a priority. If you have a hard time with distractions getting in your way, make a specific time during your day that is sacred, where you only do what you really want to do. Maybe it’s an hour of Kung Fu or Yoga in the morning before the rest of the world wakes up. Maybe it’s 30 minutes of Mahjong before you turn in for the night. Whatever it is, you have to make it a priority or it will get lost in the vacuum of the minutiae abyss.
Focus on the good. The reason still puzzles me, but we humans have a tendency to focus on the negative in events, circumstances, and people. We have a tendency to count our misfortunes and all the things that are lacking before we count our blessings. Make a habit of focusing on all the things you’re grateful for and you will open yourself up to experiencing the beauty of life.
Give something away. I’ve found that the best way to reconnect with how beautiful life can be is to give something away. It doesn’t have to be anything material. It can be a compliment, a smile, or a positive intention for someone else. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is sincerely giving your presence.

This list is, by no means, exhaustive. These are just the things that have worked for me. Experiment on your own and take chances. Sometimes a deep breath or a smile at a stranger is all it takes to bring you back into a state of presence.

Closing Thoughts

It’s easy to get motivated to follow or chase a new provocative idea. Seeing the beauty in the “ordinary” sounds quite alluring. But like most things that catch our fleeting interest, our well intended desires get lost in our rush to get things done and keep up with the day to day business of living.

To make our perception of life being amazing a constant perception rather than a transient one, we have to slow down. It’s only through seeing the wisdom of slowing down, breathing and being present that we can realize how ridiculous it is to always be in a hurry. We may think we’re moving quicker, and getting more things done. But in doing so, we miss the point: to enjoy life now.

Only by slowing down and being here now can we make what we’re doing worthwhile. It’s in slowing down that we allow ourselves space to experience life more fully. We often go through life trying to eliminate and fill up space as much as possible in an attempt to “maximize” our time. But in the end, the exact opposite happens.

It’s through space that air fills your lungs. It’s through space that your body moves. It’s through space in the vibration of the air that sound is heard. It’s in the gaps between veins that blood flows. Without the space between these letters, there would be no words for you to read -it would all be incoherent.

In this way, you realize something…

Emptiness truly roars. Silence speaks. Space gives birth to form.

It’s in the gaps that beauty is found.

** Got tips for daily living? Share your thoughts and stories in the comment section. See you there!

About the author: Jonathan Mead is a raw foodist, life coach, and prolific blogger. He is interested in unconventional paths to personal growth and advocates strange things like killing your goals. In his spare time he studies Jeet Kune Do and other ass-kicking strategies. He also wrote a pretty cool book, called Reclaim Your Dreams – An Uncommon Guide to Living on Your Own Terms.

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68 Responses (58 Comments, 10 Trackbacks ):

Comments

Eric Hamm | Motivate Thyself

Apr 27 09, 10:30 am PDT

1
Great advice Jonathan and what an in-depth post! :-)

It’s so easy to let the daily grind keep us from enjoying and appreciating the daily beauty that comes are way. Thanks for sharing this guide to help us do just that! Eric
Writer Dad

Apr 27 09, 10:40 am PDT

2
“have you ever thought about how many different processes have to be organized simply to create the experience you’re having right now?”

All the time! I try hard not to get dizzy because that one simple thought, given enough breath can be enough to wrap you in it’s molecules for a while.

Being present in the moments rather than trying to match the “template” is in my eyes the finest way to live.

Thanks, Jonathan.
sarah leighann

Apr 27 09, 10:45 am PDT

3
What a fantastic article, & so timely. I think this is something we’re all going to need to become better acquainted with – as a society, let’s hope we’re all moving away from the “more is better” mentality of the last few decades & are able to find beauty in the little things.

I try to live my life by this quote, but the ever-amazing Kahlil Gibran:

And forget not that the Earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair.

Thanks again, Tina!
Renee

Apr 27 09, 11:11 am PDT

4
Great post. I love the bit about seeing the beauty in the little things. Sometimes when life overwhelms you or you’re too busy, etc, you never notice the little beauties in life. I had to comment because it reminded me that last week, I noticed outside my window a very beautiful yellow and blue bird sits there (there’s a tree opposite my room) and I couldn’t believe it, it looked like a painting. …I have been in this house for over 10 years and I have never once noticed it!

I suggest really looking at nature, it really defines what beauty is. :)

Renee
Positively Present

Apr 27 09, 11:22 am PDT

5
I love this post. The world is filled with wonderful, amazing, beautiful things — if only we just open our eyes and ears and hearts. I love the parts about practicing non-judgment and focusing on the good. If you judge, you miss out on things. If you don’t open your mind and search for the good in every day life, you also miss out. This is a great post filled with such great ways to embrace the beauty in life. It’s all around us. Just look! :)

http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
Yolanda Berry

Apr 27 09, 1:20 pm PDT

6
This is so true! I’m an advocate of living a life of beauty. My personal quote is “Live Your Vision….Indulge in the Beauty of Life!

I hope more people read this post and embrace the moment. There’s just too much beauty in the small details of life to be ignored or dismissed as nothing.

Take time to just exhale and breathe……
kball

Apr 27 09, 3:58 pm PDT

7
I really enjoyed reading this Jonathan, thank you! I particularly like your description of listening, and how it improves your relationship with reality. When I catch myself thinking, I like to mentally ‘pop’ the thought like a bubble, and laugh at this silly mind that keeps trying to ignore the beauty that’s right in front of it.
Aw

Apr 27 09, 5:45 pm PDT

8
Giving something away is very (even the most) important way IMO. Old stuff always fill in my heart and let me wanting nothing new.
RechargeYourMind

Apr 27 09, 5:51 pm PDT

9
Loved the part about giving something away. I understand that you did not mean it about material things, but my grandpa always says “The more money give, the more money you will get”.
Nathalie Lussier

Apr 27 09, 6:17 pm PDT

10
Great one Jonathan! I loved being able to read a long and in-depth article about such a fascinating topic. We all love the beauty, but sometimes we don’t take the time to admire it. ;) Contrary to that “admiration” thing, I really liked your message about staying in non-judgment. It’s something I try to practice every day.
Karl Staib - Work Happy Now

Apr 27 09, 6:20 pm PDT

11
And the more we slow down, the better our work becomes.

When we take our time with our work, relationships, and the beauty in our lives we do a better job of making good choices. I used to be a “point b” type of guy, but I’m learning to enjoy the journey of my emotions which allows me to anchor myself in the present.
Kishore
Apr 27 09, 6:21 pm PDT

12
Nice and simple….very good one..
Aurooba

Apr 27 09, 6:53 pm PDT

13
Lovely article Johnathan! And the colour thing, it is SO true, and it never ceases to amaze me. Every time, the newness of it, it just doesn’t get old! And I’ve noticed that when you really listen, without all that chatter going on in your mind, when you listen with all of yourself, with no judgement, you have the feeling of expansion. You expand and the space you feel is incredible. Silence and space truly roar.
Evelyn Lim

Apr 27 09, 7:32 pm PDT

14
I love how this article reawakens our sense of appreciation of life and beauty. There is no such thing as “mundane” or “boring”. It is how we make things to be. It’s true that we get so caught up in our thoughts that we hardly ever slow down. If we can just breathe, relax and simply notice and observe the magnificence around, we will come to realize that life is perfect as it is.

Jonathan, your post is definitely a work of beauty, love and inspiration. Thanks for bringing light to my day!
Natalia

Apr 27 09, 8:36 pm PDT

15
Thank you for reminding us, your readers, to focus on what’s important. Stopping to bask in the sunshine, smile at a child’s smile and pet a sweet and grateful dog are the gems of [my] life. Articles like this one remind me to get back to the little things. Isn’t everything made up of little things, after all? The comforting smell of my ginger tea (and taking a few moments to enjoy it), the clicking and clacking of my keyboard as I type, the feeling of water crashing on my face in the shower.

Your articles are beauty themselves. You spread love through “those internet tubes” (ha). Wonderful.
Chris - ZTF

Apr 27 09, 9:28 pm PDT

16
Quality in daily life is key for me. When we put effort into whatever we are doing it helps suck us into the present and become mindful. Only then can we appreciate the beauty of everyday life. If our minds are scattered and thinking about ‘what if’s’ and dwelling on what has happened, the things going on around us are gone…….
Take pride in what you do, slow down and appreciate it and the rest will follow….
Jorge
Apr 28 09, 1:18 am PDT

17
I remember sitting on a Chicagoland porch captured by the bruised sunset. It was as if I were seeing it for the first time, the roses, reds, purples had never in my 17 years gathered together like this.
At least that’s what it seemed like, I was surprised at how colorful the sky could be.
Some short months later my eyes went dark and for these 12 years that sunset has often come like a friend to remind me of the fragile beauty of this world.
Cody Dream-Life-Coaching

Apr 28 09, 3:10 am PDT

18
Just look for it, make an effort to see it, beauty is in everything. Most of all find the beauty in yourself, your can’t see in others what doesn’t exist in you.
Vincent

Apr 28 09, 6:05 am PDT

19
Hi Jonathan,

Sometimes we rush through life to get things done, but we fail to appreciate what is around us. Slowing down and being aware of our surroundings will help us discover beauty in life that we fail to see when we are rushing.

Vincent
Personal Development Blogger
Alison Wiley, Diamond-Cut Life

Apr 28 09, 6:20 am PDT

20
I agree with Jonathan and the above commenters . . . yes, life is shot through with beauty — but we have to develop the eyes for it. It’s like an ongoing exercise, a muscle that we develop.

I’ve found that certain little disciplines help me to consistently ‘walk in beauty’ (as the Navajo say). I’ve shared them here: http://www.diamondcutlife.org/twenty-ways-to-a-simpler-happier-life-part-i/
Asianmommy

Apr 28 09, 8:19 am PDT

21
Good points. Too often, we get busy and too caught up with our own lives to stop and notice the wonderful things around us.
John - Zen-Moments

Apr 28 09, 11:13 am PDT

22
Most people think of their sense of beauty as a judgement based on their experience of whatever it is they are judging.

But true beauty is found IN THE EXPERIENCE. It, is our core relationship to the infinite moment.

Judgements are dead proclamations of things past.

The eternal NOW, is the source of all power and beauty.

:-)
John
Personal Development

Apr 28 09, 9:32 pm PDT

23
I think the best part is to find beauty in everything. It is must for getting rid of monotonous life. I believe nothing is boring in life if you keep the prejudices away. I see people behaving like critics and finding fault in everything. They miss enjoyment of all small things which can bring them joy. Nice article and valid points.
Franklie Cloudy
Apr 29 09, 7:46 am PDT

24
This post is right on. I’m convinced the best tool to actually realize a quieter mind and the ability to be present with the immediate beauty that surrounds is a daily meditation practice. It makes it all happen.
hkki

Apr 29 09, 12:55 pm PDT

25
great post. But not very easy to do :))
Marc and Angel Hack Life

Apr 30 09, 12:38 pm PDT

26
Loved this. Very true words. Thanks Jonathan. ;-)
sridiniari

Apr 30 09, 7:13 pm PDT

27
hello :)

what a beauty on this post..

reconnecting through the realities of life is such a beauty.
when we walk on the paths of life, not paths of dreams, we are also creating creations.

super!
sankar
May 01 09, 12:00 am PDT

28
mm , a nice post to say someone to be happy all the time. which in real life u can’t see it. You can;t just really stress to take your compassion out of everything rather than judging your thoughts, which may drive you to land in troubles. focusing on good things is what makes u drive your compassion and make you see things as you have always dreamed of. For example, if i am doctor and willing to make myself a great physician, i have to see the inner changes of the same disease in various perspectives ,which always drive you. But if u see the same condition always , though u treat him well, you really don’t be satisfied. so, seeing things differently is not possible in everyone’s life, even though everyone insist us to see things differently.. I am not just denying anything, but being to the fact that u don’t have always the chance to do it so.
Kate

May 02 09, 5:21 am PDT

29
That was an excellent post! I want to keep rereading it. Thank you!
Jonathan Mead

May 02 09, 8:14 am PDT

30
@ Jorge: You said that beautifully, I think you should be a poet — if you’re not one already.

@ John: You are absolutely right. Beauty is not something found by judging something in comparison to something else. It’s something inherent in the very creation of life.

@ Everyone: Thank you all for your wonderful comments and conversation.
Hamid
May 03 09, 4:42 am PDT

31
Johnathan, its a very nice post. The only way to cope with life’s harshness is just dont pay any heed to it and instead enjoy beauty.
My b’day is approaching and like my last b’day I am celebrating it with street kids. I like the look on their face when i take them to a bakery and offer them to buy anything they want.
ben

May 04 09, 1:11 pm PDT

32
Giving something away is very (even the most) important way IMO. Old stuff always fill in my heart and let me wanting nothing new.
Danielle
May 05 09, 9:29 am PDT

33
Amazing!
ken
May 06 09, 12:27 pm PDT

34
I think meditation is the ultimate way to find beauty- listening is important- great article- but i’ve looked at a lot of self help books and meditation- and meditation is the ultimate way to calm the mind-

My life is quite difficult with challenges and finding beauty and I still have a hard time with the meditiation but thats the way my life is
Joey Logano Fan

May 12 09, 8:46 pm PDT

35
Wow, there have been so many great comments to follow up with this article, thats its so hard to add my own comment, hehe! Because everything I want to say has already been pretty much said. So… I will have to leave a lame comment and say that, I very much loved reading your article Jonathan, I actually found it beautiful to read, hehe.
Celes | EmbraceLiving.Net

May 23 09, 9:27 am PDT

36
Hi Jonathon, what a beautiful post! I agree with you that beauty can be found in every little things – I remember when I was still in my corporate job last year, I would always spend a few seconds soaking in the morning air despite the morning rush to work (I had quite a knack for being behind time in my appointments, but that’s a separate thing altogether).
Keen
Aug 05 09, 1:29 am PDT

37
Thanks your wonderful post !
Mohammad Alam
Sep 09 09, 8:19 am PDT

38
Dear jonathon,

THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL AND DEEPLY INSPIRING ARTICLE. IT IS DIFFERENT FROM A NUMBER OF COMMON ARTICLES CONTAINING TIPS FOR SELF DEVELOPMENT. I AM 60 AND A RETIRED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL LIVE IN DHAKA, BANGLADESH.

I AM KEEN TO FIND BEAUTY IN LITTLE THINGS AND ACTS. JONATHON, I SHALL APPRECIATE IF U COULD GIVE ME SOME MORE DETAILED LIST OF LITTLE THINGS OF OUR DAILY LIFE WHERE I COULD FIND BEAUTY AND INCREASE MY HAPPINESS.

THANKS.
MOHAMMAD ALAM
DHAKA
relationship problem advice

Nov 15 09, 11:32 pm PDT

39
Great advice Jonathan!

I love the bit about seeing the beauty in the little things. Sometimes when life overwhelms you or you’re too busy, etc, you never notice the little beauties in life.

I love the parts about practicing non-judgment and focusing on the good.

I think really looking at nature, it really defines what beauty is. :)
Amit Sodha - The Power Of Choice

Jan 15 10, 7:45 am PDT

40
as I say, ‘remember the artwork of life’ and there is much joy to be found in repetition, you just have to look for it. You can also be in the ‘flow’ through repetition.
Steven | The Emotion Machine

Jan 17 10, 8:01 pm PDT

41
Very impressive post Jonathan! I have been seeing you all over the blogosphere lately, you must be working your butt off.
Ritu Kumari Sahu
Mar 26 10, 12:44 am PDT

42
Thanx for this favourable quotes………

Seriously its work……….
dr pewezo khalo
Apr 13 10, 8:49 am PDT

43
amazingly beautiful! It really bring out the reality of life. Cheers!
Anna
Jun 14 10, 5:59 am PDT

44
I love that you are all about not just going with the routines and status-quo that so many of us try to keep up with in various aspects of our life. Your blog is refreshing and it sets itself apart from all of the the other blogs which seem to be routine. Thank you for your tips on simple living. Very informative, useful, and even fun. Great read!
tweetie
Jul 05 10, 9:49 pm PDT

45
Thank you for your inspiring post! =)
hesbon

Sep 29 10, 6:00 am PDT

46
very wonderful article and so inspiring
SRIKANTH
Dec 08 10, 5:13 am PDT

47
r ‘t u defining some thing new, which lies in teary and rarely in real world
majorshadow

Dec 11 10, 12:28 am PDT

48
Song Title: “Stand”
Hear @ URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3MxZcls24o

A song about getting through life’s rough spots
Chris

Dec 19 10, 12:19 pm PDT

49
I really enjoyed the post Jonathan. Beauty is all around us, it all just depends on how we look at things. Great advice and keep up the good work.
lily :)
Feb 09 11, 6:13 am PDT

50
This has really inspired me to do a photography project on the beauty of life and everyday things that seem mundane, for my final exam, thankyou x
Anonymous
May 14 11, 5:31 pm PDT

51
“we have to slow down”

We live in a competitive society where slowing down isn’t possible. There are too many of us, and we are all replaceable. Focusing on the negative keeps us competitive.
There is little actual joy to be found in repetition, that’s why assembly-line work is done by machines.
Unless your passion can pay the bills, it’s not a priority.
j
Nov 22 11, 2:12 pm PDT

52
I enjoyed this piece it encompasses ideas that frequently arise in my thoughts, I think its incredible the power our perspective has to govern our reality, yet its sad that such a small majority of people are aware of there ability to change there own lives, I’m 17, so a majority of my interaction is with discontent distracted individuals lost in there self-created worlds, I find it frustratingly difficult to explain the power people have over there reality, the nature of society increases the likelihood people have of adopting attitudes that dis-empower themselves and there potential, usually responses to my attempts to explain this are dismissive, I try to appreciate the light in this occurrence by considering that I’m only aware of the self destructive nature of some attitudes because my consciousness has developed a little beyond the typical teenager, but I find it difficult to accept individuals with endless potential being restricted by there own negative thought patterns and perspectives, is there any approaches to helping people realise there own power you found particularly effective? or any information relevant that could help me?
thanks again for the piece :) j
james
Nov 22 11, 2:13 pm PDT

53
I enjoyed this piece it encompasses ideas that frequently arise in my thoughts, I think its incredible the power our perspective has to govern our reality, yet its sad that such a small majority of people are aware of there ability to change there own lives, I’m 17, so a majority of my interaction is with discontent distracted individuals lost in there self-created worlds, I find it frustratingly difficult to explain the power people have over there reality, the nature of society increases the likelihood people have of adopting attitudes that dis-empower themselves and there potential, usually responses to my attempts to explain this are dismissive, I try to appreciate the light in this occurrence by considering that I’m only aware of the self de structive nature of some attitudes because my consciousness has developed a little beyond the typical teenager, but I find it difficult to accept individuals with endless potential being restricted by there own negative thought patterns and perspectives, is there any approaches to helping people realise there own power you found particularly effective? or any information relevant that could help me?
thanks again for the piece :) j
Asif Iqbal
Nov 24 11, 8:48 am PDT

54
I just watched an atrocious video clip of some real people being shot at until their death. And I suddenly felt like retching, or something like that. To get rid of this feeling, I googled the keyword ‘beauty of life’. And there came up this extra-ordinary article on how best we can enjoy life. Death is inevitable, and what is inevitable, what we can do nothing against, should be patiently accepted. This is what’s told in the article.

But what turned this article into a miracle (to me) is its little paragraph on going non-judgmental. Wow, the concept is pretty new to me! I, to be frank, was heavily judgmental about people that I know. And yes, it involved ‘negativity’, which is petty bad. I will, from now on, seriously consider becoming less and less judgmental.

Thanks for this soul-opening piece. (I’m an atheist, and therefore I resisted saying ‘God bless you’.)
innam

Jul 02 12, 3:49 am PDT

55
Most people think of their sense of beauty as a judgement based on their experience of whatever it is they are judging.

But true beauty is found IN THE EXPERIENCE. It, is our core relationship to the infinite moment.

Judgements are dead proclamations of things past.

The eternal NOW, is the source of all power and beauty.

Innsm
donna link
Oct 23 12, 6:50 am PDT

56
this was one of the most meaningful articles i’ve read in quite sometime. I know that God was in the mix…He is the reason that i ran across this site. I’m so happy I did. It was written just for me. Thank you, and keep up the wonderful work. The world definitely need people like you….someone to teach us how simple life really is. But we have complicated what God made so simple. I’m trying to live life the way God has intended me to, and this article will stay with me. God bless you.
emily
Nov 20 12, 1:45 pm PDT

57
this has truly inspired me to become a better person, and to find myself, and my true purpose in life.

Thank you.
Ling
Apr 07 13, 6:31 am PDT

58
I love your article Jonathan. I been feeling down and trying to find beauty in life. Thanks for your inspiring article.

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Think Simple Now. Happiness and Happy Life

How to Find Beauty in Life

Seeing Things Differently

1. Practice Listening

2. Practice Non-Judgment

3. Open Your Heart

Tips for Daily Living

Closing Thoughts

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