Finding Beauty in Life

Similar to the common quote about beauty is in the eye of the beholder, philosopher David Hume shares that "Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them." I like this quote more than the aforementioned because it shares a little more about not just that beauty is a perspective, but it is created by taking the time to consider it. In a way, I like to view therapy as a way to find beauty within one’s life, hardships, and within oneself. We take time to really notice the impacts, the meanings, and the contexts in which we exist. It creates nuance and depth - and we exercise an artist’s eye to see our inner most vulnerabilities that way. So, if you need to see the world as something more than just a decrepit miserable place full of ugliness, take the time to really observe it. Ask yourself questions about how it came to be, why it runs the way it does now, and where it will be in the coming years. Observe the bigger picture and zoom in to pay attention to smaller encounters. At some level, you’ll find beauty in the world around you. Not all beauty is pretty, but it draws the mind and eye towards it, grasping our focus, and pleasing a sense or emotion that needs space to exist and be felt.

"Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them."

~ David Hume