why romanticising life is essential

I think one of the greatest gifts we have on this earth is the potential to create beauty. And if you’re reading this, you’re also most likely gifted with the freedom to create beauty, a privilege we must not forget we have.

Being a tadpole in the great pond which is the world, often makes us feel like we are inconsequential or like our actions don’t have much weight. However the tiniest ripple can have the greatest effect on those around us. When faced with the grappling question of ‘what our life’s purpose is’ one can feel stifled, overwhelmed and inconsequential. It feels as though some mighty answer awaits us- that once we reach that epiphany of our ‘calling’, we’ll finally feel resolved. All will make sense, and all will click together in place. Although as time goes by, I truly wonder if anyone has a ‘life purpose’ at all.

Life does not revolve around one climactic discovery. And people’s mission is, if it’s from a place of goodness, often their own manifestation of beauty. Life is cyclical and come is waves of highs, lows, brighter days and darker storms, there are months where you feel energised and others where you’re battling demons.

I’ve been thinking about purpose a lot, and how my purpose has changed over the years. My purpose as a student felt tied to grades, and academia, a purpose I felt more than comfortable in and that shook me to the core when I dove into the world of work. I found that last year I clung onto the purpose of ‘actor’ and felt inclined to work jobs I didn’t enjoy, and drive myself into the ground in order to fulfil that purpose. I find myself now, in part-time jobs that don't necessarily feel like my end career, that are stepping stones to where I would like to ‘end up’ and struggle with the idea that I’m perhaps not fulfilling a ‘purpose’ or my full potential.

I think it’s unfair to put that pressure on on myself, on oneself. To discard the efforts in your life, just because they’re not tied to the ‘dream’ idealistic future version of yourself. Purpose’s change, tasks change, and you adapt, accept and recognise your efforts accordingly. Do not trample your current self under the weight of your future self, because otherwise you’ll never let her grow into her.

I think this is why I’m seeing the ever glowing importance of creating beauty in my day-to-day. I think regardless of all else, this will be a purpose that will never change.

Creating beauty in your day-to-day is a purpose absolutely everyone can fulfil. The act of taking care of yourself, your environment, or something else is the easiest way to create joy and peace. It urges you not only to take time in tending to something, but also taking time to indulge in gratitude. If you look hard enough, every creature is a beacon of beauty in her own way. Contributing to this, romanticising your days, is a hack into finding joy in your days, which make up your life. There is infinite opportunities to create beauty in your days, and each person will feel aligned with different things.

Here are a few of my favourites:

start with yourself

I think we can create beauty by taking care of our appearance, not in an obsessive-controlling way, but from a place of genuine love and care. Taking time to stretch, create shapes with your body, dance, feel. Taking particular care on a body part you love- moisturising your skin, filling your nails, or immersing yourself in a luxurious bubble bath lit by candles. Romanticise yourself and you’ll find energy circling back to embrace you.

transform your bedroom into a haven for you. Fill it with self expression, curate your space in a way that exudes beauty for you. And tend to her. This is where you wake up each morning, waking up with beauty.

tend to something

buy some plants, plant some plants. The easiest currently are sunflower seeds, often supermarket seeds are enough- plant in a pot of soil and experience yourself creating life from a seed. Fill your windowsills with roses, and tend to them, watch them grow.

Humans plating trees, flowers on windowsill, putting bird feeder out for the birds, tending to their homes are all examples of how beauty brings joy to others. If everyone tended to their own garden and created beauty, life would be an endless succession of beauty

create art

create art. art for the sake of art, art you don’t need to share or show anyone, for art is an external manifestation of an inner-most self, and that is beauty in itself. draw, knit, crochet, write, sing, dance, draw, paint, scribble, carve, cook.

create for yourself, create for others. Your art, no matter how small or grand is uniquely your own, and there is beauty in that.

beauty in words

gratitude journalling. being kind to yourself and others.

We are all creators at heart. Every action with take, move we make, we are releasing energy out into the world. Every breath is a vibration contributing to creating a life we are a part of.

When watching nature, no rose deems herself ‘better’ than the other, she just grows in the best way she can, given her circumstances and environment. Comparison when curating beauty in your life, will kill all chances of your own beauty blossoming.

By leading your life in a direction of beauty, and following what you feel inclined to I believe will help you show up better in all other areas of your life. If your aim is for your life to be beautiful- in an inner, not materialistic way- I don’t see how you can go wrong.

If you make it a life mission to create beauty around you, that is something you absolutely can control and feed into as an ever flowing river. And I assure you that when beauty is created, joy follows- particularly when you know it is you who has created it.

Beauty is the simplest of pleasures. and often the simplest things are the best.

Lots of love,

Eloïse

note: do drop me a message to let me know ways that you personally create beauty. seeing other people’s art is one of my all time favourite things.