Life in Technicolor: The Essence of Joie de Vivre

Imagine a life where every moment is vibrant, and even the ordinary days feel extraordinary. This captures the essence of 'joie de vivre,' the French term that translates to 'joy of living.' It is about finding delight in simplicity, appreciating the surrounding beauty, and embracing life with zest. Parisians excel in this practice by focusing on 'being' rather than 'doing' or acquiring possessions. Feeling truly alive stems from mindful engagement and savoring real, tangible moments, even in the seemingly mundane aspects of everyday life. Cultivating this requires a curiosity-driven spirit, a willingness to explore, openness to fully experiencing life, and a playful mindset. Here are a few ways to get started:

Presence

To truly savor life, we must be present in it. Today, many of us are trapped in an endless pursuit of more, failing to engage with the daily moments right in front of our eyes, that make life rich. This lack of presence leaves us unsatisfied, much like consuming high-calorie, nutrient-deficient junk food. When we neglect to allow the time and space to experience our days, they slip away undifferentiated until there are no more.? Here are two ways to start being more present:

• Put away your f*@#ing phone. Smartphones, while useful, often distract us from the present moment. I’ve found it helpful to establish boundaries such as banning phones at the dinner table, putting your phone in another room while you sleep, and keeping it in your pocket in elevators or while waiting in line. Making these adjustments creates space to connect more deeply with our immediate environment, the people around us, and increases opportunities for spontaneous insights and serendipitous encounters.?

• Escape the Busyness Trap. Stop booking every minute of your day. Constant busyness prevents true presence and reflection. Block time in your calendar for nothing but mindful engagement and appreciation of the moment.

Curiosity and Exploration

Curiosity ignites the spirit of joie de vivre, driving us to seek new knowledge, ask questions, and remain open to the world around us. It propels us beyond our comfort zones, encouraging the discovery of uncharted territories both externally and within ourselves, deepening our understanding of life. Exploration is the natural extension of curiosity. Through it, we encounter new people, ideas, cultures, and perspectives, broadening our horizons and enhancing our appreciation for the world's diversity.? As adults, we often become entrenched in routines, missing the richness around us. I’m guilty of this too, but exploration breaks this monotony, stimulating our minds and invigorating our spirits. While vacation or moving to a new city is exciting, exploration can begin within our daily lives. Mel Robbins suggests a practice called “never been there, never done that,” which involves listing places and activities you’ve never tried, even in your own neighborhood. This could be visiting a long-standing museum, paddleboarding, exploring a new coffee shop, or taking a different route home. The key is to drop any preconceived notions of what you think the experience will be like. I recommend keeping an exploration journal to document new encounters, ideas, and feelings as you go. This practice not only combats boredom but also fosters new insights, relationships, and experiences that enrich your life in unexpected ways.

Savoring?

Embracing joie de vivre involves tasting life in all its flavors, such as relishing a delicious meal, enjoying the scent of fresh flowers, or listening to a beautiful piece of music. By fully engaging our senses, we experience life's vibrant tapestry more vividly, discovering joy in the nuanced details of each moment. Consider the Italian ritual of sipping espresso at a coffee bar or the Parisian habit of stepping away for a leisurely lunch with friends. These practices involve pausing to truly enjoy the moment, savoring the food, the company, and the experience. These practices starkly contrast with the common scene in the United States, where many find themselves burning their tongue, chugging their Starbucks on the commute, or shoveling a tasteless lunch into their mouths in front of their computers. Embracing the art of savoring, the way our international counterparts do can significantly enhance our well-being, enabling us to appreciate the richness of our daily experiences.?

Awe

Awe is that breathtaking moment when we stand before a majestic mountain, hear a moving symphony, or witness an act of great courage. It connects us to something greater, making us feel both humble and expansive. Experiencing awe offers profound psychological and well-being benefits, as it expands our perception of time, reduces impatience and stress, and shifts our focus away from ourselves. While awe is often associated with extraordinary events like Maslow’s Peak Experiences, it can also be found in everyday moments. A child's laughter, a beautiful sunset, a nature walk, or a piece of art can evoke awe.

Play

Playfulness infuses our lives with lightness and creativity, allowing us to shed inhibitions, express ourselves freely, and find joy in spontaneous moments. Through play, we reconnect with our inner child, rediscovering the wonder and magic often overshadowed by the responsibilities of adulthood. Deliberate play, characterized by activities that are intrinsically motivating, enjoyable, and driven by curiosity, is essential for fostering creativity, resilience, and overall well-being. It allows us to explore new ideas and perspectives without fear of failure or the pressure to achieve specific outcomes, thereby encouraging innovation as the mind becomes more open to making unique connections and insights. For some, this might involve taking an improv class, playing a game of pickleball, writing poetry, or having at-home dance parties. Personally, I took up painting during the pandemic. I do it solely for myself, to experiment with colors, ideas, and moods without worrying about performance metrics or judgment. It has become one of the most fulfilling forms of joy, creation, and self-expression in my life.

Experiencing the full Spectrum of Life ?

Embracing the full spectrum of life means feeling our emotions, from joy to sorrow, which contributes to our growth and understanding. I learned this profoundly when my father passed away several years ago. As a self-professed workaholic, I believed that focusing on work would help me get through the grief—until one day, I broke down, sobbing on the floor, ugly-crying uncontrollably for hours.? I’ve since learned it’s crucial to get familiar with and feel our feelings as real-time as possible so that we can move through them in productive ways. Scott Galloway echoes the importance of this, not only because it feels good viscerally, but also because it informs our lives and priorities. He suggests reflecting deeply on our feelings and what they reveal. For example, when something moves you, lean into that emotion and understand what about it resonates so deeply. Otherwise, we risk sleepwalking through life like automatons.

Incorporating joie de vivre into our lives means being present, curious, emotionally engaged, savoring moments, and embracing play.?

What is your favorite way to live more joyfully?? Let me know in the comments below.