How many times have you used the words “good” or “bad” today?
From checking your weather app to tracking the progress you've made on your to-do list to scrolling through social media, opportunities for instant assessment abound. And the more you sort things into these categories, the more more instinctive making these judgments becomes. You may find yourself filtering everything that comes your way in terms of “good” or “bad.”
A dark cloud causes “bad,” a social media post of baby animals causes “good,” news of a political fight causes “bad.” Whether you think something is good or bad, worthy of a like or not, this is important information. But if this categorization is the only thing you think about, the only lens through which you interpret the world, you will miss a lot.
I'm a philosopher which specializes in happiness, well-being and the good life. I study how the state of mind affects the perception of the world.
In my latest book “The art of interesting“I explore how an evaluative perspective inhibits your ability to experience psychological richness and other positive aspects of life. The more you instinctively react to “good” or “bad,” the less of the world you perceive. You will be less likely to engage your mind, be curious, and have interesting experiences.
Assessment narrows your horizons
When you instinctively call something good or bad, you focus only on those characteristics that make that thing good or bad.
You look outside and see only the darkness of the clouds threatening your plans for the day. You don't notice the cool shadow these clouds create or how the wind causes them to transform. You don't notice the flowers blooming or the child passing by, who is also looking at the clouds, but with wide eyes in surprise.
When hasty judgments rule, you effectively disconnect from a wide range of possible experiences. When everything around you is simply good or bad, nothing can be mysterious, mysterious or intriguing. Nothing is just new, or just challenging, or just stimulating. Nothing interesting, etc. your mind has filtered these are possible sources of cognitive interaction. He sees what he expects and nothing more.
Open your mind to greater psychological wealth
Instant judgments narrow your perspective and limit your mind's ability to connect and interact with other aspects of your experience. But you can unlock this potential by simply resisting any judgmental instinct and instead viewing the world without trying to judge what you see.
You will immediately begin to notice more and activate the inner drives of your mind. curiosity and exploration.
Freed from stuck judgments of good and evil, you can explore what is new and allow yourself to be challenged and deal with the complexities inherent in the human experience. Traffic jams can be a source of intrigue rather than just a bad start to the day. Delicious meals don't just taste good – they pique your curiosity and stimulate your creativity. You will move from seeing your co-workers as difficult and annoying to recognizing them as human beings who deserve your compassion.
You will also feel the pain, struggle and reward that comes from these mental activities. You will experience intense, intense moments and a wider range of emotions. Your life will be full of unusual and unique experiences, and there will be very few instances of boredom and monotony.
Over time, your mind will become more capable of making connections, being creative, and operating from a place of cognitive complexity. You will begin to look at the world more holisticallyas full of connections waiting to be discovered.
These are all signs that your life has become more psychologically rich.
Expand your mind, expand your sense of self.
Psychological richness and, more generally, the experience of novelty and interestingness are valuable in themselves. But there is evidence that they are also important because their impact on your sense of self. When you engage in new and exciting activities, you not only broaden your horizons and gain new perspectives, but you also become more confident in your ability to do whatever comes next. In these ways you expand your sense of self.
The connection between psychological wealth and self-development is intuitive. New, interesting activities stimulate the mind, keeping it engaged and exploring. This process can increase your self-confidence and provide you greater sense of control over the environment. As one's sense of self expands, one's very presence in the world changes.
One recent study examined the influence of psychological wealth on pro-environmental behavior. Although feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness and helplessness are common. in the face of climate changeDeveloping psychological wealth can change this negative attitude.
Researchers have found that people who experience psychological richness are more willing to engage in sustainable activities. They believe that this correlation is mediated by self-empowerment, which helps subjects feel more confident that their actions will have an impact on the complex issue of climate change.
Skip the good and the bad and choose the interesting instead.
Everyone has the ability to develop a sense of presence and agency in the world that enriches the experience of life itself. The habit of making quick judgments inhibits this ability, but you can train your mind to be more willing to engage and explore.
Easiest way to do this?
Stop saying or thinking “good” and “bad.” When you feel like doing it, force yourself to say something else. Get started now and begin your journey to interact with the world in a more rewarding way.
This article has been republished from Talka nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trusted analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. He was written by: Lorraine Better, Middlebury College
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Lorraine Besser does not work for, consult, own shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations other than her academic position.
