How to Become a Connoisseur of Everyday Beauty

An underrated and surprisingly simple way to add richness and meaning to your life is to become a connoisseur of everyday beauty.

Many people spend money and invest their time to pursue a better life.

Still, relatively few approach the gift of beauty with the intentionality it deserves. 

Why is this? One reason is that beauty has much more to complete with these days.

Unlike the pleasures of social media, tasty food, and gaining wealth, beauty’s pleasures gradually reveal themselves to those who cultivate a taste for it.

Take a piece of art, complex music, or an urban environment, for example.

There are pleasures for the novice, to be sure, but even more significant layers of beauty for those who invest the time to understand the nuances of what they’re experiencing.

Cultivating an appreciation of everyday beauty is not reserved for the smartest or most cultured.

It’s not like becoming a connoisseur of wine or fancy cheese—it doesn’t have to be a pretentious pursuit or cost much money.

I would argue that the most astonishing beauty in this world is freely available to those living an ordinary life.

What does it take to become your education in the study of beauty? You need only three skills:

The ability to be fully present.

We often miss out on beauty because we’re going too fast or our mind is preoccupied with something in the past or future.

Instead, carve out some time in your day to be present and attentive to what is before you.

The ability to notice.

You may think that a connoisseur of beauty needs to recognize deep and profound truths to succeed, but that is absolutely not required.

My encouragement is not to try to sound more intelligent or fancier than you are—simply notice what stands out to you, what is interesting, unusual, or delightful.

The ability to savor.

Finally, the time to savor comes after carving out the mental space to notice beauty.

Again, I encourage you not to make this more complicated than it needs to be.

To savor something means to enjoy it fully. Go ahead and think nostalgically or romantically about the beauty before you.

Tell yourself a story about how beauty is magical and necessary for human flourishing. The more important and vivid our experience, the more fully we’ll enjoy it. 

That’s all it takes to become a student of beauty.

There’s no right way; these are just helpful tips. Start practicing this skill a little each day.

Here’s a list of some of my favorite examples of ordinary beauty that are regularly accessible to most people. Stop taking them for granted and appreciate them for their gift.

The wonder of a child at play. See their bounding energy, their endless curiosity, and their childish mannerisms.

The colors of a sunrise or sunset. No two are ever the same. Be amazed by the many shades of colors and how they blend together.

The taste and smell of food. Notice the emotions and memories they evoke. Mentally catalog the feeling of anticipation and the sense of pure bliss from those first few bites.

The warmth of physical touch. Allow the warmth of another person’s body to comfort you, and pay attention to the subtle ways every hug, handshake, and embrace differs from person to person.

The serenity of moving water. Few things calm the mind more than a gentle stream of water in an idyllic setting. Appreciate the abundance of life around the stream— and why not? There are fewer nicer places to be.

The sound of pleasant music. Think about the ways that sound strung together can create such powerful experiences. Sound can energize and inspire; even more surprising, it can even move us to tears.

The intrigue of a good story. Whether a book, TV show, or movie, the power of a good story is indisputable. But don’t settle for passive engagement. Pay attention to what makes you enjoy the story and how it hooks you.

Being a beauty connoisseur isn’t another item to add to your to-do list; you don’t have to worry about “getting it right.”

The most helpful way to think about it is as another path you can take on the trail of life.

This path may go a little slower, but the views are better. It may be challenging sometimes, but that only amplifies the pleasures you’ll feel on the other side.