Everything Has Beauty, But Not Everyone Sees It

A quote by a Chinese philosopher, Confucius, states that "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it". We live in a world where everyone is different from one another. Everyone's beliefs and values are different. Not only do people have different perspectives of life, they also have differing tastes. A concept of beauty is not just a personal preference, but also something which is different for each individual. A beautiful picture can be significantly different from one person to the other.

Have you ever had a moment with someone, where your immediate connection was so strong and real, that it felt like the world around you disappeared? In those moments, you could feel yourself becoming one with the other person. That feeling is beauty. It's what makes us want to create, live, and love. But how do we find beauty in all facets of life? How can we make our own lives and others' more beautiful? We must understand that everything has beauty; it just depends how we approach it.

What Is Beauty?

To identify the source of the beauty in a particular situation, we need to ask the question: "What is beauty?"

The word, "beauty", has several different definitions. One of the most commonly known usages of the word is in relation to art. When we speak of a work of art being "beautiful", we are referring to its ability to invoke a universal response from the beholder. A painting, a piece of music, or a sculpture can be considered beautiful, if it is pleasing to the eye in such a way, that it makes the beholder feel a certain way.

However, there are many different types of expressions and things which can be considered beautiful by different people. Some people find symmetry, which is the arrangement of shapes or forms, to be quite beautiful. Others may consider a well-chosen wood, or a nature scene, to be beautiful. When we are trying to identify the source of the beauty of something, it is important to be as objective as possible. We must not let our personal preferences and taste affect our consideration.

Beauty Is A Subjective Idea

Beauty is a concept, which is inherently relative. To the individual, a work of art can seem extremely beautiful. To another person, the same work of art could look significantly different. Beauty is only a concept, it has no objective existence. It is merely a way for one person to describe something, in this case, their perception of a work of art, to another person. When we are in the presence of something beautiful, we are human beings and so we feel a very powerful desire to identify the source of the beauty, to find out why it is so pleasing to us.

But it is a human inclination to do this, to try to understand the basis for why something is beautiful, which is why we should not let it consume us. If we are able to find a larger perspective on beauty and all things of the world, one in which we are truly content, then it will be worth the time we spend identifying what is causing what we perceive as beauty.

Everyone Has Different Views On What Is Beautiful

It is important to realize, that what is considered beautiful is highly subjective. So, in considering what constitutes beauty we must consider each individual perspective.

With that in mind, we may now consider the different ways in which something might be considered "beautiful". Something is considered "beautiful" if it evokes a certain response in the beholder. To put it another way, something is considered "beautiful" if it moves the beholder to have a certain set of emotions or sensations. What constitutes a "good" or "bad" reaction or sensation will vary from person to person. But, in general, certain responses are considered more "positive" or "desirable" than others. One of the most basic ways in which something may be considered "beautiful" is if it gives a pleasurable response.

So, if I were to show you a flower, and tell you that it was beautiful, you would probably consider this a rather nice reaction. You would consider this to be a desirable outcome. Therefore, this would be considered to be "beautiful" in this sense. On the other hand, you may find the idea of picking a flower to be naughty. You may consider this a negative response. Therefore, this would not be considered to be "beautiful" in this sense.

It goes without saying that there are many other ways in which something may be considered "beautiful". For example, one may consider something to be beautiful if it is harmonious, or elegant, or if it is well-proportioned or if it is symmetrical. As we consider the different ways in which something might be considered "beautiful", we must also consider the fact that in each of these ways, there are different levels of "excellence".

How To Find Beauty In Everything

We have discussed that there are many ways in which something may be considered "beautiful". Now, here is the final piece to the puzzle: "How do you find beauty in everything?"

With all the different ways in which something may be considered "beautiful", you will never be able to properly catalog or classify everything. However, you don't have to catalog or classify to find beauty in everything. You just have to look. Beauty is found by those who can see it, those who are able to perceive the subtle nuances and differences which others overlook.

The true way to "find" beauty in everything, is to simply look. You may find "physical" beauty all around you. Perhaps the colors of a flower are pretty in your eyes. Or, the shape of a rock formation may be pleasing to your aesthetic sense. There are an infinite number of things which may be considered beautiful by an individual. The only limit is the individual's own imagination. Therefore, to find beauty in everything, one must merely look.

Thank you for reading.