Live Life with Art: Lessons to be Learned

There are few people who possess the natural talent for living, the kind of people who seem to energize a room and bring out the best in everyone around them. They exude confidence, possess self-possession, and make our deepest concerns seem petty in the face of their sheer living. These individuals seem to be living their lives as an art form, creating balance between action and attention to detail in a spontaneous yet pleasing composition. But, is the talent for living something that can be learned or is reserved for a precious few? While it may take more than just a few painting classes to develop the spark of a Picasso, Vermeer or Chagall, there is much to be learned from observing the natural-born leaders who bring vitality and energy to their lives. Here are some of the lessons that can be gleaned from watching someone who knows how to live.

1. Pay Attention

Curiosity is what makes us truly alive, and when we look deeply at the world of everyday things and people around us, we discover mysteries everywhere. Pay particular attention to people, really pay attention, and it will bring forth something amazing in them. People love to tell their stories, and when someone is listening with keen attention, it enriches their own story. This is especially true for the people we encounter in our daily lives, like students, co-workers or friends. By paying attention to their stories, we can learn more from them, and that’s the hallmark of a great teacher.

2. Surround Yourself with Inspiring People and Things

An artful life embraces creativity, and creativity emerges from our engagement with the world around us. As Ezra Pound said “the artist is the antenna of the race”, the “stuff” of art is not what is inborn in the artist but what they pick up from the society around them. Therefore, we must surround ourselves with people and things that inspire us to be creative. It’s especially important to surround ourselves with people who are better than us in their field of expertise. For example, if we want to be a writer, then we should surround ourselves with accomplished writers who can serve as mentors or simply inspire us to achieve greater heights. Similarly, if you are a fan of certain types of art that resonate with your soul, take them in and let them nourish your inner being.

3. Capture Your Dreams

Many people never reach their dreams simply because they have never made an effort to figure out what they are. We avoid the kind of self-examination and purposeful imagining needed to pinpoint the things we want most out of life – and so we can never really chase after them. A good way to begin is by imagining a future where you have already achieved what you want in life. Now, work backward and piece together the steps and milestones that will get you there. That way, you’ll have a clear roadmap to help you achieve your dreams.

4. Be Appreciative

Being appreciative of the world around you is key to living comfortably within it, even as you strive to attain your wildest dreams. Kurt Vonnegut once talked about his Uncle Alex, who, after a particularly fine meal or while watching an especially lovely sunset, would sit back and exclaim, “If this isn’t nice, what is?” That kind of conscious recognition of the comforting, pleasing, or otherwise satisfying moments in life goes a long way. It is what gives prayer its power for those who thank the powers that be, whatever they happen to believe in, for the little bounties that make up their day-to-day lives. Being appreciative of what you have now is the fuel that drives your vision of achieving more.

As we reflect on the art of living, we realize that it’s not about mastering skills or attaining objects. Rather, it’s a way of seeing the world and engaging with it in a meaningful way. It’s about making everyday routines and activities something more – something that can nourish us spiritually and creatively. As we embark on this journey of living artfully, we need to pay attention to those around us, surround ourselves with things and people that inspire us, capture our dreams, and be appreciative of the world around us. Let us strive to live our lives like a great work of art.