Insight #19: On beauty

Hello again! Welcome to Insight #19: On beauty.

• Beauty is something we've all experienced. Weather on a pretty partner, a nice sunset, or breathtaking scenery. It is said it lies in the eye of the beholder. However in general beauty has some characteristics to it, for things aren't all flowers and rainbows.

• Beauty is often connected to nature, and survival. In the case of people, often the aspects we consider attractive are because the aid in survival in some way, big muscles help protect from danger, curvy gals can better sustain children.

• In regards to objects, Beauty is more varied. However I believe one of the keys to beauty is a ‘nice’ level of complexity, a blank canvas is boring, a single line is hardly art. However tv static is also not really art, it is noise, too much also isn't beautiful.

• Instead beauty lies in this almost mysterious middle, when you can't quite tell why something is having such an impact on you. This complexity is necessary to get the minds attention, but also to eventually be deciphered and the payoff of “getting it”, which our brains certainly love.

• Beauty also isn't just nice, it isn't something we should take for granted. Studies have been done that people on newly renovated hospitals, with pretty painting and clean corridors, heal up to 2 days sooner than people in older wards. Beauty has a very real impact in our wellbeing, and it is often forgotten in today's world in exchange for utility.

• So I recommend you check out your environment, and ask yourself if it is pretty, for your own standards. If it isn't, some much needed renovations could permanently uplift your mood, wellbeing and even health. Even just a simple poster or little ornament can be enough to elevate any area.

That's all for today. Is your environment beautiful? If not, make it so!