To speak of home in relation to a building is simply to recognise its harmony with our prized internal song.

We delight in complexity to which genius has lent an appearance of simplicity.

How wise were the ancient philosophers in suggesting that we exclude from our visions of contentment anything that might one day be covered by a lava or blow down in a hurricane, succumb to a chocolate smear or absorb a wine stain.

The creation of beauty, once viewed as the central task of the architect, has quietly evaporated for serious professional discussion and retreated to a confused private imperative.

The only problem with unrestricted choice, however, is that it tends not to lie so far from outright chaos.

Sculptures and buildings were to assist us in bringing the best of ourselves to the fore. They were to embalm our highest aspirations.

We respect a style which can move us away from what we fear and towards what we crave.

Architecture should have the confidence and the kindness to be a little boring.

Just as we cannot appreciate the attractions of safety without a background impression of danger, so, too, it is only in a building which flirts with confusion that we can apprehend the scale of our debt to our ordering capacities.

Bestselling author Alain de Botton considers how our private homes and public edifices influence how we feel, and how we could build dwellings in which we would stand a better chance of happiness. In this witty, erudite look at how we shape, and are shaped by, our surroundings, Alain de Botton applies Stendhal’s motto that “Beauty is the promise of happiness” to the spaces we inhabit daily. Why should we pay attention to what architecture has to say to us? de Botton asks provocatively. With his trademark lucidity and humour, de Botton traces how human needs and desires have been served by styles of architecture, from stately Classical to minimalist Modern, arguing that the stylistic choices of a society can represent both its cherished ideals and the qualities it desperately lacks. On an individual level, de Botton has deep sympathy for our need to see our selves reflected in our surroundings; he demonstrates with great wisdom how buildings — just like friends — can serve as guardians of our identity. Worrying about the shape of our sofa or the colour of our walls might seem self-indulgent, but de Botton considers the hopes and fears we have for our homes at a new level of depth and insight. When shopping for furniture or remodelling the kitchen, we don’t just consider functionality but also the major questions of aesthetics and the philosophy of art: What is beauty? Can beautiful surroundings make us good? Can beauty bring happiness? The buildings we find beautiful, de Botton concludes, are those that represent our ideas of a meaningful life. The Architecture of Happiness marks a return to what Alain does best — taking on a subject whose allure is at once tantalizing and a little forbidding and offering to readers a completely beguiling and original exploration of the subject. As he did with Proust, philosophy, and travel, now he does with architecture.

philosophy

Philosophy

history

History

creativity

Creativity

books

Books

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

The Architecture of Happiness

This 30 day challenge isn't necessarily supposed to be done on the 1st of any month.Pick a day and pick a marker and start crossing down the dates. It can be done by anyone who wishes to embrace the present and make the most of every day.

Pick A Day

The following 30 day challenge incorporates everything that could be done with the resources that you already have.If you don't have a calendar, consider google calendar as an alternative. Be creative and make alterations wherever needed.

Resources

Day 1 - Take a mindful walk and notice five things in your surroundings that bring you joy.Day 2 - Write down three things you're grateful for and why.Day 3 - Disconnect from technology for an hour and engage in a hobby or activity that brings you joy.Day 4 - Create a list of small goals you want to achieve within the next 3 months.Day 5 - Spend 30 minutes in nature, appreciating the beauty around you.Day 6 - Practice a form of meditation or deep breathing for 10 minutes to center yourself in the present moment.

30 Day Challenge 

Day 7 - Write a letter to someone you love, expressing your appreciation for their presence in your life.Day 8 - Try a new activity or hobby that you've always wanted to explore.Day 9 -Reflect on your favorite memories and create a photo collage or journal entry about them.Day 10 - Take a break from multitasking and focus on one task at a time, giving it your full attention.Day 11 - Engage in a random act of kindness for someone without expecting anything in return.Day 12 - Spend time with a loved one, fully present and engaged in conversation or an activity together.

Day 13 - Create a vision board with images and words that represent your dreams and aspirations.Day 14 - Practice self-care by indulging in activities that recharge and rejuvenate .Day 15 - Take a day trip to explore a new place or revisit a favorite location, being present in the moment.Day 16 - Write down three positive affirmations to uplift and motivate yourself.Day 17 - Share a heartfelt compliment or words of encouragement with someone who could use them.Day 18 - Challenge yourself to learn something new or acquire a new skill that interests you.

Day 19 - Have a screen-free evening and spend quality time with loved ones, playing games or having meaningful connections. Day 20 - Volunteer your time or skills to help a cause or organization that you're passionate about.Day 21 - Take a break from social media and use that time to engage in a creative activity or pursue a hobby.Day 22 - Practice active listening in a conversation, fully focusing on the other person's words and emotions.Day 23 - Reflect on your personal values and set intentions for aligning your actions with those values.

Day 24 - Engage in a physical activity that brings you joy, such as dancing, hiking, or practicing yoga.Day 25 - Create a self-reflection journal entry, focusing on the lessons and growth you've experienced recently.Day 26 - Treat yourself to a mini-adventure or exploration of your local surroundings.Day 27 - Spend time with a pet or animals, appreciating their presence and the joy they bring.Day 28 - Engage in a digital detox and spend the day without any technology, fully embracing the analog world.

Day 29 - Practice deep gratitude by writing a heartfelt thank-you note to someone who has positively impacted your life.Day 30 -Do 15 minutes of meditation. Sit with your thoughts.Reflect on the 30-day challenge journey and write a letter to yourself, acknowledging your growth and commitment to embracing the present.Feel free to adapt these prompts to suit your personal preference.

Make sure to accompany someone in this journey of yours or be accountable to yourself as to not miss a single day.Record this challenge in a journal or a on a digital mode and review it on the 31st day. It's the percentage change that counts

Have Fun

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

habits

Habits

30 day challenge 

It is a state of existence characterized by a lack of purposeful activity and engagement with the world. In this passive state, one is prone to experiencing suffering and dissatisfaction. Without action and initiative, one remains stagnant, unable to grow, fulfill their potential, or find true fulfillment.

Living a life of inaction is painful.

When one is idle and lacks meaningful engagement, negative thoughts and tendencies can arise. Boredom and emptiness create fertile ground for destructive behaviors, both towards oneself and others. Without positive outlets for energy and focus, harmful thoughts and actions can easily take hold, perpetuating a cycle of negativity.

Inactivity breeds evil.

It is the seat of our thoughts, emotions, and consciousness. Within its depths lie the capacity for creativity, critical thinking, and self-awareness. With this power, we can shape our reality, solve problems, and pursue our goals. Understanding and harnessing the potential of our minds is essential for personal growth and fulfillment.

The mind holds great power.

As information processors, our brains have a natural inclination to seek and absorb knowledge through our senses. Our sight, smell, hearing, and taste serve as avenues for gathering data from the world around us. This innate drive for consumption fuels our curiosity and fuels our quest for understanding and learning.

The brain seeks consumption. 

It involves deep introspection and self-reflection to identify the core desires, values, and aspirations that guide our lives. By gaining clarity on what truly matters to us, we can make informed choices, set meaningful goals, and align our actions with our authentic selves, leading to a more fulfilling and purposeful existence.

Understanding one's own needs is crucial.

As adaptable beings, humans possess the ability to shape and transform themselves. This process involves intentional self-improvement, learning from experiences, and consciously refining our thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors. By actively sculpting our character and mindset, we can become the best versions of ourselves and lead lives aligned with our values and aspirations.

Molding oneself is natural.

It is inherent in our nature to adjust and thrive in various circumstances and environments. Our capacity to embrace change, learn new skills, and modify our perspectives allows us to navigate life's challenges and seize opportunities for growth. Adaptability is a valuable trait that enables us to evolve and flourish in an ever-changing world.

Humans are adaptable.

As sentient beings capable of making choices, we are granted the freedom to determine our own actions and paths in life. However, this freedom is accompanied by the responsibility to consider the consequences of our choices, respect the rights of others, and act in ways that uphold moral values and promote the well-being of ourselves and society.

Freedom comes with responsibility.

By being conscious of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. This self-awareness empowers us to make deliberate choices that align with our values, aspirations, and authentic selves, enabling us to shape our lives in meaningful and fulfilling ways.

Self-awareness and choice are essential.

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

mentalhealth

Mental Health

meditation

Meditation

The way to freedom

"The Time Capsule Project" is for anyone who smiles when they open an old box in their closet and discovers remnants of their younger self.It is for those who seek to find unexpected joy on random days.

Who Is It For?

The project typically involves gathering meaningful objects, photographs, letters, or any other items that hold significance. If you are doing it digitally, the same involves collecting all the photos and videos and making a folder of it.

What Is It About? 

These items can then be stored physically in a private or a public place. Dug a hole and hide that precious box. You can have fun with the digital ones as well; make an instagram or pinterest account and dump them in private mode. Email to yourself at a scheduled date. Be creative.

Where Can It Be Done ?

Take action now. Seize the present moment amidst your busy routine, seldom pausing to observe the world around you. Embrace this opportunity while your senses are still alive and aware. Do it while you still care.

Do It Now

<ol><li>Define the Purpose: Determine the purpose and theme of your time capsule. Are you aiming to capture a specific period in your life, document personal growth, or preserve memories for future generations?</li><li>Select a Container: Choose a suitable container for your time capsule. It could be a sturdy box, airtight container, or any other vessel that can protect the contents from environmental factors.</li></ol>

How Is It Done 

<ol><li>Gather Items: Collect meaningful items that represent the chosen theme or period. These can include photographs, letters, personal mementos, newspaper clippings, artwork, or small objects that hold sentimental value. </li><li>Write Messages: Consider writing letters or messages to your future self or to those who will open the time capsule. Express your thoughts, hopes, dreams, and reflections on life at the present moment.</li></ol>

In Continuation

<ol><li>Involve Others: Invite family members, friends, or your community to contribute to the time capsule. Encourage them to share their own items, stories, or messages, fostering a sense of shared experience and connection. </li><li>Reserve and Seal: Ensure the preservation of the items by using acid-free archival materials, protective sleeves, or proper packaging for delicate items. Place everything inside the chosen container, arranging them in a thoughtful and organized manner.</li></ol>

In Continuation 

<ol><li>Choose a Location: Decide where you want to store or bury the time capsule. It can be kept in a secure place in your home, entrusted to a responsible person, or buried in a meaningful location (if appropriate and allowed). </li><li>Document and Record: Capture the process of creating the time capsule through photographs, videos, or written documentation. This adds another layer of storytelling and allows future generations to understand the significance of the project.</li></ol>

<ol><li class="ql-align-justify">Set an Opening Date: Determine the future date or event when the time capsule will be opened. This could be a specific number of years later, a significant anniversary, or a milestone event that holds personal or communal importance. </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Share the Project: Spread awareness about "The Time Capsule Project" by sharing your journey and the concept behind it. Encourage others to consider creating their own time capsules and share their experiences.</li></ol>

Carpe diem/ sieze the day

writing

Reading & Writing

The Time Capsule Project 

The idea that living a passive and idle life, devoid of learning and personal growth, is the most detrimental way to exist. Human beings have the capacity to learn and acquire knowledge, and this gift should be cherished and utilized to shape one's own identity and purpose.

Staying Idle

<ol><li>Recognize the capacity of the human mind to learn and acquire knowledge.</li><li>Cherish this gift and make a conscious effort to engage in continuous learning and personal growth. </li><li>Seek out new experiences, explore diverse perspectives, and expand your understanding of the world.</li></ol>

Embrace Learning and Personal Growth

My life started changing and bringing in more growth only when I started to learn and understand my personal well being. My purpose was fully visible only because of that decision and the fact that I continued my self growth journey.

Personal Experience 

Humans often fall into a trap of excessive consumption, driven by the illusions and messages perpetuated by the media and consumer society. The negative effects of this excessive focus on consumption, such as the degradation of meaningful relationships, the environment, and the exploitation of resources, kill us slowly.

How Does It Go Down ?

<ol><li>Acknowledge the potential pitfalls of excessive consumption driven by media and societal illusions. </li><li>Take a critical stance towards the messages and images that are fed to you. </li><li>Avoid falling into the trap of mindless consumption and instead focus on meaningful and purposeful consumption. </li><li>Seek out content that aligns with your values and goals.</li></ol>

Be Mindful of Consumption:

Look around you. How many people do you see actively understanding the depths of the content that they consume?

Ask Yourself

Humans should actively seek knowledge, experiences, and ideas from the world around them, while also critically evaluating and shaping them according to their own needs and lifestyle.

What Needs To Be Done

<ol><li>Understand the consumption of various forms of content is essential for inspiration and creativity. However, actively filter the knowledge and information you consume. </li><li>Evaluate it based on your own needs, beliefs, and lifestyle. </li><li>Take what resonates with you and use it as a foundation for shaping your own ideas and perspectives.</li></ol>

Filter and Shape Knowledge:

I don't create content on the baisis of what is going viral out in the world. I create content that is of value and is derived from my own personal experience.That alone makes me authentic and brings value to my work.

Be Authentic 

strategy

Strategy

problemsolving

Problem Solving

When you lose you should not say, "God is in my heart," but rather, "I am in the heart of god."

When you kill a beast say to him in your heart: "By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too shall be consumed."

But I say to you that when you work you fulfill a part of earth's furthest dream, assigned to you when that dream was born.

Say not, "I have found the truth,"but rather, "I have found a truth". Say not, "I have found the path of the soul," Say rather, "I have met the soul walking upon my path."

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the cup that was burned in the potter's oven?

You who travel with the wind, what weather vane shall direct your course?

he silence of aloneness reveals you who seek the talkative through fear of being alone.

Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in a mirror. But you are an eternity and you are the mirror.

You are not enclosed within your bodies, nor confined to houses or fields. That which is you dwells above the mountain and roves with the wind.

A 20th century classic, The Prophet is thought-provoking, comforting and wise, and its simple truths remain compelling and rewarding to this day. Utterly unique and beloved around the world, The Prophet is a collection of twenty-six poetic essays by the Lebanese artist, philosopher and writer Kahlil Gibran. Telling the story of the prophet Al-Mustafa and his conversations with various acquaintances as he returns home after a long absence, the book touches on subjects of universal concern, including love, friendship, passion, pain, religion and freedom.

The Prophet

Life's greatest tragedy lies in a stagnant existence, where boredom breeds evil.

Life's Tragedy

Many philosophers and thinkers have long warned about the dangers of idleness and the untapped potential of the human mind.They have emphasized the significance of learning and the profound capacity we possess to shape our own destinies.

It Has Been Said Before

By embracing the power of learning and self-awareness, we can avoid the bleak fate of a passive life.Our minds hold immense potential waiting to be unlocked, and it is up to us to harness it and create a meaningful existence.

Do It Yourself 

<ol><li>Break free from the shackles of mere consumption and strive to become architects of your own lives.</li><li>Embrace the gift of learning, nourish your mind with knowledge, and mold your experiences into a unique expression of your true self. </li><li>Dare to move beyond the confines of societal expectations and chart a path that aligns with your own desires and aspirations.</li></ol>

Build Your Life On Your Own

"Man is condemned to be free because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does. "

Sartre, an existentialist philosopher, ignited the need for us to find our own meaning and purpose in life. By delving into the essence of his philosophy, we can uncover answers to our burning questions about the human condition.

Sartre's Philosophy 

Recognize that as humans, we are not mere animals or machines. We possess the remarkable gift of learning, which enables us to grow from experiences, history, and knowledge. Embracing this gift is vital to avoid becoming a mere product of consumption, living a life devoid of purpose and significance.

Utilize What We Have

<ol><li>Cherish the immense capacity of your mind to absorb knowledge and continuously expand your horizons. </li><li>Reject a life of passive consumption and instead strive to create, to inspire, and to leave a meaningful legacy. </li><li>Embrace the words of wisdom from great minds, but also remember to critically consume and mold ideas according to your unique needs and values.</li></ol>

What We Can Do

By understanding the dangers of mindless consumption and the potential for self-directed growth, we can break free from the constraints that hold us back.Choose a path of purposeful consumption, seeking wisdom and inspiration from the world around us while actively shaping our own destiny.

The Architecture of Happiness

30 day challenge

The way to freedom

The Time Capsule Project

Be Authentic

burrito