The Art of Living Well
Art of Living
We are all living in this world. But do we all live well — or do we just exist? Living well has little to do with material things. Material things can only make us “think” we live well, but, in fact, we may not be living well.
So, what is living well? Or, more precisely, what is the art of living well?
Living well is experiencing a sense of satisfaction, and embracing a feeling of appreciation and thankfulness for that innate satisfaction. The satisfaction comes from self-attitude. In Buddhism, enlightenment and nirvana (a sublime state of being) may come only after one has negated self or has become “no-self.” Christianity also focuses on selflessness or “humility” — which is essentially shrinking of self-importance, or the diminishing of self — as a prerequisite for spirituality; without humility, no one can come before God.
So, living is all about what happens to self and the perceptions of others on what happens to self. But to live well, one needs to shift the focus from self to others. The art of living well is to focus on the journey rather than the destination. The art of living well is to focus on others rather than on self. Focusing on others cherishes and nourishes mindfulness and loving kindness towards others, which make life meaningful and worth living.
The art of living well is all about the process, rather than the outcome — this is the antidote against all obstacles in life. No matter what happens to you, no matter what problems you face in life, you have made a difference in your life as well as in that of others — that is the art of living well.
Creating a Harmonious Work of Art to Live In
You need to conceptualize your ideal space, and identify your style. Organization of your space encompasses several other components. The proper plan should include the placement of objects in a room. Rooms should be laid out in a manner that best highlights that particular space. There is nothing better to highlight a space than a focal point. To assist with the rooms organization, the plan should also be barrier free. With consideration to function, identify the purpose of your room. Is the room for work, leisure, or entertaining? Furthermore, identify the purpose of objects in your room. Having aesthetic pieces in a room provides something to capture the occupants attention. Your functional items in the room (if consistent with the style of the room), will provide attractive storage options to keep the space organized and clutter free.
Balance is the final element for converting your home into a living work of art. A well balanced home is one that promotes a feeling of harmony. Balance in a room is achieved through scale, symmetry, and color.
The furnishings placed in that room should be proportionate to the size of the room. Over-sized items in a small room will make it feel even smaller. When considering symmetry, a room can be balanced symmetrically or asymmetrically. Begin by asking yourself is your room formal or casual? If the styling of your home is more formal and traditional, you will definitely want to stick to keeping elements in the room symmetrically balanced. Symmetrical balance is achieved through defining a midpoint in a room or along a wall, and making sure elements that are represented on one side of the the wall or room, are represented on the other.
Using asymmetry, a room or wall will rarely, if ever, have a defining midpoint. Color is that element that frightens most. The lack of color or the overzealous use of color can have equally disastrous affects on your homes interior. Color is essential to setting the mood of a room. Understanding the basic psychology of color will aid you in the proper use of color. When experimenting with color, and color combinations, it is important to know which colors are complementary and which are contrasting. Complementary colors create an even and consistent feel throughout the space, while contrasting colors create drama and interest in a room.
