Understanding Attention

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Strangeness can be aesthetically positive.

Ordinary everyday objects can become strange in appearance.

Being aware and paying attention is simple prerequisite of any kind of aesthetic experience.

There can be dullness to daily life. We often find everyday objects and environments uninteresting. Our daily routines (cleaning, living, social interactions, going to work, doing errands, or just sitting quietly) are not normally appreciated because they lack the novelty of special events. They are routine, even boring. But they are immensely important for our happiness. The issue is not life; it is our poor perspective. To gain aesthetic appreciation of our daily surroundings, we need to break out of the habitual way of experiencing all-too-familiar objects, environments, and events. As the ancient insight by Confucius reminds us, “Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.”

Aesthetically appealing objects are novel and unique. The need for novelty is innate to human beings. The need for novelty has made us who we are—intelligent, curious, and constantly seeking the next thing. Novelty captures our........

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