Although you can’t escape the routine of life, you can transform it. The latest psychological research indicates that by changing the way you think, you can make your daily life more interesting and create psychological richness in your life.
Psychological richness is a powerful form of cognitive engagement. It is different from happiness and meaning, but it is equally important for a good life.
One of the researchers, in collaboration with Shigehiro Oishi and his research lab, found that people value experiences that stimulate their minds, motivate them, and generate a range of emotions, and many of them prefer a life filled with these experiences.
The study, published by the “Science Alert” website, brought up the three perspectives in your daily life, which transform your daily routine into endless opportunities to experience the world as interesting, and you develop the ability to improve your life.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a form of observation that brings out details you normally ignore: the texture of houseplant leaves, the faces of strangers you pass on the sidewalk, the heights of different cans on the store shelves.
Curiosity “Exploring through Questions”
Curiosity is not limited to just me. No matter how much you know, there is always something to be curious about—especially if you learn to notice details through mindfulness.
Let’s say you notice a group of people gathered around a bus stop during your daily commute. Now let your curiosity run wild: Has the bus stop always been there?
By asking questions, you are asking your mind to think about something it hasn’t thought about before. You are creating new ideas, and if you allow your mind to keep thinking, you will have an interesting experience while you are on the same journey.
Even better, you will have created that interesting experience yourself. You have gained the power to improve your life, and it is a power that is completely within your control.
Creativity “Trying Something New”
While people often think of creativity as a talent, reserved only for artists or inventors, everyone has the ability to be creative. It is a skill that involves making new connections with your mind.
You are creative whenever you do something new or different. Whether it is painting a beautiful landscape, wearing a new combination of colors, developing a new dish, or simply tweaking a recipe, it all falls under the umbrella of creativity.
