Today I am delighted to be welcome Tara Mohr to Reach Our Dreams. Tara is the author of Wise Living, a beautiful blog that is all about living simply and meaningfully. You can connect with Tara on Twitter or if you enjoy this interview why not subscribe to hers RSS?
I’m always looking for new ways to wake up to the life in front of me. This week I started playing with the idea of “five beautiful things.”
In any moment, particularly if I’m feeling stressed or out of sorts, I look for five beautiful things in my midst. I really look at them. I take them in—not just with my eyes but also with my mind and my breath and my heart. I spend a few moments just looking.
This morning, I’m in a bustling café. It isn’t particularly beautiful. But in a moment of feeling kind of bummed out and rushed and anxious, the thought popped up: look for five beautiful things.
The moment I raise my head, I see the red-gorgeous leaves of the trees out the window. Intensely rich as bowl of dark cherries. Hovering slightly in the wind, patiently waiting for our attention. Bold and unapologetic as they wait. Had I looked at them before this morning? Yes. Had I seen them? No.
Next, the face two seats down from me at the café. Clear, pale, freckled, trustworthy, unusual and familiar feeling all at once. Beautiful.
The bright green skirt of the woman walking past me, the green of summer. On this early day of spring, that is in itself a proclamation of good things to come.
The photos above the espresso bar, which I’ve seen at least a hundred times before. Three in a row, frame in arches. In looking at them I start to appreciate the miracle of someone taking the photograph, and the miracle of someone else framing them that way, the miracle of someone conceiving a design for this place. And then I start to feel the miracle that it is all here, and I’m here too. The miracle of a Saturday morning that is, that is now.
By the time it’s time to look for item number five, everything is looking beautiful. The white coffee cup is beautiful. It’s all starting to feel vibrating and alive and miraculous and now. (And I’m not even caffeinated yet).
So number five is, shockingly, the stop sign, right outside the window. It’s become stunningly gorgeous sometime in the past five minutes. It probably couldn’t have been beautiful thing number one, but through these eyes it’s a vibrant red. It’s the perfect shape composed above the green vines below and the brick building behind.
I’m left with this: There’s a way in which life is about looking. Looking closely. Looking with the intention to see beauty. Looking with curiosity and alertness. Looking with reverence for now.
Looking changes everything.
Right now, before you finish reading this post, and click over to the next window, will you find five things of beauty, of striking mystery, in your midst? Five things that are amazing out of their aliveness? Start with one or two, and take them in through your eyes, your mind, your heart and your breath. Spend a few moments with each, and the rest will take care of themselves.
I’m curious to hear what that was like for you. And I’d love to know, what does “life is about looking” mean to you?
Love,
Tara
Thank you for your beautiful post Tara. I have used your exercise this week and it is amazing! Chopping the vegetables took on a new light as I took the time to look at all the colours and textures.
Jen
A lovely post.
At all times we make a choice about what we focus on. So many go through life making a choice to look at life in a boring miserable way but if you choose you can constistantly look for the beauty in the world.
Ben´s last blog ..6 outstanding ways to support someone in their dreams
well you know Jen that's a good idea because when someone focuses on something his mind becomes tuned to finding more of it, positive thoughts attract more positive ones while negative thoughts attract each other
thanks for the post:D
Farouk´s last undefined ..Response cached until Fri 2 @ 9:43 GMT (Refreshes in 23.95 Hours)
Thanks Tara Sophia for such a beautiful post!
Beauty is such a forgotten quality in our society. In fact, beauty is often something that's defined for us by the media and by industries that are more intent on hooking our insecurites about our lack of it. This exercise of focusing our attention on the beauty of even commonplace things is a useful one in taking us back to our own perception of things and of giving us a sense of happiness and peace.
Christine Livingston´s last blog ..Why Pushing Through Is Not Always The Way To Get Ahead
I think that we can find beauty in almost everything if we are truly mindful of our surroundings. In fact, the more mindful we are, the more we can 'wake up' to the beauty that is literally right in front of us here and now.
Have you ever seen the movie American Beauty? There is this scene where a person is filming a plastic bag floating in the air. It's quite a beautiful scene because it's this plastic bag, which we would normally think is ugly, however, it's sort of doing this dance...with the wind..with its surroundings. When we just be and let go of our pre-conceived notion and thoughts and labels, we can truly experience the world in a new and wonderful way.
Nate´s last blog ..You Have Only This Moment To Live
I took the time to do the exercise:
The delightful mauve of my cellphone - a joyous marriage of form and function and fun!
The incredibly vivid blue and green of my detergent bottle - an almost eact match in tone and hue.
My sable feline Salem's glossy coat, its sllekness giving a hint to its incredible smooth softness.
How incredibly bright the old lawn is, now that the snowcover has melted - bringht enough to almost need sunglasses.
The Easter-like shades of my exercise bands - mauve (again!), almost neon yellow, and bright leaf green!
Thanks, Tara for helping me use one of my least used senses on this glorious day!!
Trece´s last blog ..Will this count for Eternity?
Jen, I'm so glad you tried it. I can imagine how remarkable those vegetables looked! Thanks so much for hosting me here today!
@Ben and @Farouk - I wholeheartedly agree.
We can dramatically shift the quality of our lives by changing where we focus our attention.
It's quite amazing to put that into practice on a moment to moment basis.
@Christine & @Nate
Thanks for your comments, and nice to see you here Christine!
Christine, I love your point about how we've been conditioned around beauty in our society - and what a narrow standard that is. And Nate I think you've said it perfectly that when we let go of our preconceived notions and the usual labels, the world looks very different.
When I was doing this exercise in the cafe, I was really surprised by how my definition of beauty widened - things that weren't "pretty" or "special" became very beautiful simply because of their aliveness and somehow because of my attention too. Very much like the plastic bag that you mention Nate.
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Bits and Pieces for Today
Hi Tara,
When we see the good in everything the good in everything makes its way to us. The practice which you shared shows that whatever we focus our attention on expands: good, bad or in between.
I stop every hour to see things the way I prefer to see them. Appearances are fleeting; Reality is the thoughts and feelings which you choose. My Reality beats reality any day!
Thanks for sharing your insight.
Ryan´s last blog ..The Law of Attraction in 3 Simple Steps
Hi Tara, thanks for this thoughtful post. It was pretty cool to read about your experiences looking at the things in the cafe, even though you mentioned that it was not a pretty site at first. But when you looked carefully and mindfully, you discovered a lot of things that stood out to you that were in fact really beautiful. I think because we are always in a rush with life, everything seems ordinary. But when sit down and notice the little details, those little details stand out and become meaningful.
Hulbert´s last blog ..Chris Gardner and Perseverance
@Ben Spot on Ben. What we focus on is so powerful and as you said if we choose to focus on beauty it makes such a difference.
@Farouk Well said! Tara's post illustrates exactly that. We can literally transform things by the way we perceive them.
@Christine What a great point! Beauty can be found in the simplest of things and as you said, it doesn't need to be defined by the media or external influences.
@Nate I love that scene in 'American Beauty'. A great example. Mindfulness is a powerful state to induce this focus and just be aware of the incredible beauty all around us.
@Trece What a beautiful comment! I felt like I was there with your observing all the extraordinary colours and beauty of your surroundings.
Tara, Thank you again for your beautiful post. Being present and focussing on the beauty around us is so transformative.
@Ryan I love that you stop every hour to see things the way you prefer to see them. What a great practice! Thank you for stopping by and I am glad you enjoyed Tara's post.
@Hulbert Hey Hulbert, Tara's post is amazing isn't it? Slowing down and taking the time to enjoy life and seek out beauty really transforms our experience of life doesn't it?
Oh! What a lovely post, Tara. I'm in Alameda so I'm enjoying the same sunshine as you
When I set up my office I placed my desk next to a window looking out over my small garden and so it's easy to find beauty around me, but I love your reminder to stop and appreciate it.
Melinda
Melinda´s last blog ..What We Make Up
What a fantastic idea, it's like a fresh take on the "count your blessings concept". Just looking around me right now, the sky is a perfect blue, the grass is freshly cut, bright green and smelling wonderful, one of my sons is spraying water from his spiderman webshooter and it's glinting in the sun like a thousand jewels, the clean washing is moving gently in the breeze, I can smell the coffee my husband's making for me, I am truly rich and at complete peace with the world (and there's chocolate in the fridge!).
Topi
@Hulbert - yes, couldn't agree more that slowing down to pay attention to all that is really happening in the life in front of us is so powerful. hard to do, but always brings such gifts when we do it.
@Ryan - "When we see the good in everything the good in everything makes its way to us." That's quite a quote! Please write a post about it
@Trece - I love that you did the exercise!! And it seems like tapping into visual beauty inspired you to create beauty in your words too--such gorgeous descriptions of what you were seeing. Makes me think about how the experience of beauty is so enriched when we capture it through some kind of creativity or art.
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Bits and Pieces for Today
@Topi--wow, I felt like I could feel the world waking up all around you and you waking up to it as I read this. I can see the green and the blue and the water spray....and I can taste the chocolate!!!
Hugs, Tara
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Bits and Pieces for Today
Tara, that was such a beautifully written post and Jen, thank you for sharing your blog in this way. There are so many wonderful writers out there, I may not have met Tara without your introduction. Her way with words is so poetic, hers is my next stop after leaving here.
As I read the sentence about stopping and looking for five things before finishing reading the post, I did just that. I stopped and looked up into the sparkling eyes of my beautiful eldest. Our children are always lovely in our eyes of course but at that particular second, her eyes were extra especially sparkly. I suspect it was because they were sparkling with mischief and fun (she was in the middle of making a drink with tic tacs!) but it was great to just take the time to appreciate that sense of fun and exploration.
Thank you again,
Eleanor
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..Friday Friends: Hanging my head in shame
Tara,
I practice this and I call it a miracle. When i choose to consciously look at things/people this way, it truly is nothing short of miraculous. What i admire though is your ability to put it in words, to be able to convey yourself in such a way that is so reaching....pulling us into your experience. You are a beautiful, talented writer and i LOVE reading anything you write!
Tara,
What a wonderful thing to do.
For me being in a dark living room (it's early in the morning), hearing the noise of my babies tapping the toy, shaking the rattle is the first thing that I found beautiful. I can just imagine their chubby hands discovering new things (although it's the same toy they've seen for months!). I may be more of a sound person... I closed my eyes and tried to listen for beautiful things... the clock ticking in a rhythmic way... the birds chirping... almost getting to five. My boy is whining so gotta go.
Thank you for writing.. and thanks for being you!
Thank you for this important reminder of the difference between going through life just seeing vs. really looking with our whole body and breath at the textures and depth of the objects around us. This is the mind of the poet, awakening images and feelings beneath surfaces. It called forth this quotation from Rilke: "I know that nothing has ever been real without my beholding it. All becoming has needed me. My looking ripens things and they come toward me, to meet and be met."
Eleanor,
Thank you so much for your words about my writing, that puts a huge smile on my face this morning. And I'm even more touched in reading about the moment this inspired with your children. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.
Look forward to checking out your blog too! Love, Tara
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Five Beautiful Things
@Eva....yes, the mind of the poet. Its funny I realize only after writing this how seeing these things and writing about them simultaneously was integral to creating that magical experience for me
The Rilke quote is really provocative...the idea of looking ripening things...hmmm have to simmer on that!
@Melinda...thank you! for some reason I didn't see your comment earlier. Glad you got to enjoy the bay area sunshine this week too, and so glad this helped you soak up a little more beauty in your day.
@Eugine...thanks for sharing this. its been quite amazing to hear what showed up for people doing this exercise. i ove that image of the first sounds in the dark.
interesting about sound for you. i do think we each get heightened attunement to particular senses over others...and also that this shifts at different times in our lives. i wonder if moms with young kids get more aytuned to sound - being alert to cries and the different types of cries...deciphering babbles and all that.
thank you so much for reading and being on this blogging journey with me - from very early on!
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Five Beautiful Things
Liz - thank you my dear. Yes, you do look at life this way and I agree, this is the miraculous. I love that you are with me on this writing journey....and this coaching journey..and this life journey
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Five Beautiful Things
@Melinda Hi Melinda, Setting up your desk to look over your garden is a fantastic idea! Thank you for dropping in. Isn't it a beautiful post that Tara has shared?
@Topi Hi Topi! Thank you for sharing with us ... wow! What a beautiful picture you painted. You are right - what Tara has shared helps us count out blessings and appreciate what we have. (ps - how was the chocolate?
)
@Eleanor Hey Eleanor, I am glad you enjoyed Tara's post as much as I did. It's given me a new perspective on life this week too! How wonderful to hear about your experience with your children (and the tic tac drink!
). Life takes on such an amazing quality when we do what Tara suggests and take the time to appreciate our surroundings and loved ones. Thanks for sharing Eleanor - really beautiful and inpsiring!
@Liz Hi Liz
Isn't it a miracle? and I agree... Tara is an amazing writer and has created a powerful and truly miraculous experience for my readers with this amazing post!
@Eugine Thanks so much for sharing. I felt I could completely picture the scene you painted ... amazing. A great point about being a sound person ... there are so many ways to experience beauty.
@Eva What a wonderful quote!
Thank you for dropping in here and sharing that. Perfect for Tara's post!
Hi Jen - the chocolate was awesome, as always, thanks for asking!
Topi
Hi Topi! lol!
I'm glad. Will treat myself to some later too!
Beautiful post Tara,
This challenges me to look for 5 things especially when I wake up in the morning. I believe that if we don't wake up looking forward to something we'll fall for anything.
So why not look forward to something beautiful, to start the day huh? Great food for thought.
Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Jarrod
What a great idea to use this exercise to start the day!
Thanks for stopping by and I am glad you enjoyed Tara's beautiful post as much as everyone else.
Jen
Great way to transform the world! Simply seeing a thing as it is itself! I'll take your words with me "Find Five Beautiful Things"
Hi Tania
Thanks for sropping in here. Isn't this an amazing way to look at things differently! I am glad you found Tara's post useful.
Jen
1. The shine of the metallic copper accent wall in my kitchen...my wife just beyond it geeking out about the new camera she just bought.
2. The photo of our friend's two kids that she just showed me.
3. The silhouette of the tree in our back yard spreading across the leaf-strewn lawn.
4. Listening to the cover of Under Pressure by the Casket Lottery and Small Brown Bike. (yeah, the song that Vanilla Ice ripped off the bass line)
5. The wall of books surrounding me on both sides as I type this. Books are beautiful.
Thanks! this brightened up my day. Didn't start so stellar.
Carlos Velez´s last blog ..Sunday Short: Singing In The Shower To Put A Fresh Voice (Your’s) On Recycled Blog Content
Thank Jarrod. I'm going to try out your idea of doing this first thing.
And I hope you'll report back on how it goes and what you notice!
Tara
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Why Happy Couples Should Be Apart
Thank you Tania. I'm happy to hear this struck a chord with you.
Warmly, Tara
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Why Happy Couples Should Be Apart
Tara:
"To see the world
In a grain of sand
And heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity
In the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour."
--Written by William Blake, one of my all-time favorite artists...
When you are experiencing beauty, you lose track of time.
There is a feeling of just being instead of doing. You are one, whole.
One plus one is equal to one: it is one and the same. You don't feel you are separate from what you encounter "out there." You feel united.
If you don't believe me, take a walk in the English countryside. Not London at all, but someplace away from the hustle and bustle of cities.
Try to find a place in the countryside, for which England is famous.
A village with rustic lips and barn animals grazing upon the green lawns. And tell me if you have found your paradise. Let me know.
I have found my paradise in drinking one single cup of tea for one hour.
I savour every sip, so much so that people have told me, "looks like you are really enjoying that cup of tea." I put my entire being into the conscious act of drinking just one cup of tea. I love it. It is beautiful. A simple pleasure that costs very little. Or nothing at all.
The best things in life are free. And what is free is beautiful.
I once picked up a toddler, a baby girl, in her diapers. We were strangers, but she wanted me to hold her. And she fell asleep in my arms. I tried to return her, gently, to her parents, but she woke up and cried. She wanted me to hold her and, when I did, she fell asleep again. Now, if that is not a heavenly experience, I don't know what is.
Cheers! And thanks for writing such a moving post. Nice work.
Archan,
I too love Blake.
It sounds like you know how not to miss the simple beautiful things.
I agree - the best things are free.
Tara Mohr´s last blog ..Les Guest Posts
Beautiful Carlos!
Thanks for sharing your five beautiful things. It is so great that Tara's post helped so many people change their perception of their surroundings.
Jen
Hey Archan!
Thanks for such a fantastic comment to Tara's post. Perfect quote and I love the stories you shared. Enjoy each moment!
Thanks as always.
Jen
Hello Jen - a delightful piece of writing. However, it is really much more than that. It's a way to live one's life. You know, if each of us could employ this strategy in our daily thinking, our world would be one of endless joy.
It's something I have tried to do for some time now. Each morning before rising, I think of all the things that I am thankful for, and you know, the problems of the day seem to take a back position. It works!
Hi Maria,
Thanks so much for your comment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this piece.
It's true, this is a way of looking at the world and a way of life.
It is similar in some ways to thinking about what we're grateful for - causes us to pause in a similar way, and it has many of the same effects of giving us joy and a greater sense of perspective. But I've also found for me the visual focus of this exercise creates a unique experience - a different kind of waking up to the life around us. There's also something about this that is all about the present - bc its about what's noticing what's in your midst in the moment.
Thanks again for reading, and for sharing your reflections Maria.
Warmly,
Tara
Hi Maria.
Isn't Tara's post beautiful? I am so glad you found us here.
I completely agree - it is a way to live our lives. Since Tara's post I have practiced this exercise regularly and it really has literally transformed my outlook each time I have done it. It is great to hear what a difference it has made to your life too. Starting the day this way is a great idea.
Jen