Joy Actually
Hello Friend,
Cherry blossoms and rainbows, bubbles, and googly eyes: Why do some things create such universal joy?
While many things intrinsically bring joy, the real truth is: finding joy around you is a practice.
Joyspotting is a simple habit of turning our attention to the delights in our surroundings.
Here are six ways you can find joy from Ingrid Fetell Lee.
1. Look up!
Kites, balloons, and shapes in the clouds: joy often comes from things that float or fly.
2. Look down.
Whether it’s confetti from a recent celebration, a rainbow in a puddle, or a funky pair of shoes, sometimes joy is hiding.
3. Keep an eye out for color.
“Color is life,” said painter Johannes Itten. When you catch a flash of a vibrant hue, notice how it transforms the space around you.
4. Follow the curve.
Circles and spheres, squiggles and waves: curved shapes have a playful quality that softens out the hard edges of the world.
5. Go where the wild things are.
Research tells us that nature is one of the most consistent, and consistently underestimated sources of joy. So stop and smell the roses, listen to the birds, and look for a patch of wildness in the world around you.
6. Seek Out symmetry.
Whether it’s a spiral seashell, a striped awning, or a hidden face, symmetrical shapes and patterns create a sense of harmony amid the randomness of daily life.
For six more ideas on how to find joy: Download the Joyspotters Guide
Remember: Tuning into joy is an inside job. Joy is all around you. Always.
Wishing you joy & gratitude,
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
In this captivating TED talk, Ingrid Fetell Lee reveals the surprisingly tangible roots of joy and shows how we all can find — and create — more of it in the world around us.
RECOMMENDED THING TO DO
Hushed
I just returned from a five-day silent retreat at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
For 15 hours a day, we practiced sitting on warm meditation floors, walking in nature, and doing work meditation. I washed dishes in silence.
No books, no journals, no music.
This hiatus from the world, allows you to connect with your deeper self and practice just *being*.
It’s brain training. The reward? Spaciousness & joy.
RECOMMENDED BOOK
In Joyful, designer Ingrid Fetell Lee explores how the seemingly mundane spaces and objects we interact with every day have surprising and powerful effects on our moods. Drawing on insights from neuroscience and psychology, she explains why one setting makes us feel anxious or competitive while another fosters acceptance and delight – and, most importantly, she reveals how we can harness the power of our surroundings to live fuller, healthier, and truly joyful lives.
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