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One of the commonalities amongst the highly sensitive is the need for things to feel uplifting, complementary and aesthetically pleasing. Essentially, whatever feels beautiful. This might be by gazing at a stunning sunset, or a colourfully painted row of houses, by looking upon people who dress to express, or visiting a thriving garden, or even perhaps by arranging things in a room just so to create a sense of harmony.
It’s something I’ve been quite amused by in myself that when I arrive somewhere my thoughts go straight to how aesthetically pleased I am by it. Or when I meet someone I’m immediately drawn to if the colours they wear suit their complexion, or how well they’ve matched their style to their personality. Essentially it comes down to energy. A Highly Sensitive Person feels more at ease when the energy around them feels balanced, harmonious and up-lifting. So it’s not surprising that this translates into the material world too. When I speak about aesthetics I’m not talking about magazine cover beauty or trying to fake beauty through cosmetic surgery to look good for other people, but the kind of beauty that makes us feel something inside. Balance. Harmony. Peace. Wonder. Some of my dreams (which I would say fall into the category of nightmares) include desolate and vital energy absent places like petrol stations, car parks, shopping centres and suburbs with too much concrete and ugly houses. I am quite literally disturbed by them and try to avoid spending too much time in such places in my non dream state as it wears me out. But when I spend my time surrounded by beauty in all its forms I receive so much energy. I feel healed. I feel vibrant. Even a well arranged bouquet of flowers can have me in delight for hours.
The truth is life feels a whole lot better when the world around me is aesthetically pleasing. It’s why artists are so important because they view the world differently and help us to see it through their eyes, it’s why some of the most incredible human feats are also so beautiful, and why the Belle Époque was so important to the Parisians for the beauty that was created in that era. In my own life I’ve found it incredibly helpful to prioritise living in beautiful surroundings, a town that consists of a lot of nature and vibrant colours, with a strong artistic community and to make my home one that pleases me every time I look upon it. To cultivate a wardrobe that literally brings me joy to gaze upon, and to feel like I’m expressing my true essence through my choice of clothing and accessories. For a long time I was concerned about how materialistic and vain the need for beauty made me feel, and for a long time I lived in concrete jungles and disconnected myself for all of these things. Feeling like I wasn't allowed them, and over criticising myself for prioritising them. And honestly, I felt dull and miserable and I looked that way too. But now I can see that valuing beauty in all its forms is healing and necessary, and the world could do with focussing less on looking good for others, and vibrating more with the true energy of beauty 🌸
If you want to feel vibrant, you need to surround yourself with vibrant people, places and things. If you’re keen to shift out of an energetic slump and bring more beauty into your life Marie Kondo wrote a book called The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying and the underlying message was that everything you surround yourself should bring you joy. I implemented her suggestions a few years ago and it's one of the best things I’ve ever done. I still live like this and each year it just gets better and better! The #konmari train is totally worth jumping on - it’s in my top 10 life changing books :)
