In my last article, "Resolutions Revamped," I noted a few ways to stay motivated towards being positive throughout the year. One of these ideas was to create a poster or piece of art with a quote, song lyric, Bible verse, etc. that you believe will encourage you to maintain a positive attitude and mold the way you think about and perceive the world and yourself. To expand on this, I have decided to share my quote for the year and how I believe it will shape my daily attitude. The quote that I have chosen is:
"The perception of beauty is a moral test." - Henry David Thoreau
This quote first caught my eye because of the message it communicates to me about how I judge physical beauty. As I walk through my days, I want to see the beauty in the world around me. The field of grass outside my dorm has some spots that are a beautiful bright green and some patches that have died in the cold. Each person that approaches this field has the option to choose how they perceive this field. It could be seen as a field of grass ruined by the cold of winter and the patches it has created; or one could see it as a field of vibrant green that has mostly overcome the winter cold, aside from a few dead spots. We have this same decision to make in every single thing we look at. Will I choose to focus on a girl's crooked teeth; or will I choose to see the full beauty in who she is? Will I focus or the scratch on my guitar or the music it makes?
Furthermore, this is not just a choice in how I perceive physical beauty. This is a constant option to change the way I perceive and react to each situation I approach. I have the option to find the beauty in the biology class I have to take even though it does not apply to my major and could drop my GPA. I have the option to seek growth and learn from a falling out with a friend. I have the option to find growth and strength and beauty in each event I encounter.
These choices are not a simple change in attitude. It is a moral test. It becomes a moral test because of our influence on the world around us. The way that I choose to perceive beauty in my life affects the way I interact with it. If I am approaching the things in my life with negativity, that negativity naturally spreads. The test is not whether or not I will choose to see beauty so that my life will be better. It is if I will choose to change my attitude so that I might make a positive impact on the world through my interactions with my environment.
By hanging this quote in my room, I hope to be reminded that I am not simply living for myself. My world is impacted by each choice that I make. When I am feeling apathetic or pessimistic, I hope these words motivate me to perceive my world as beautiful so that I might influence others to do the same.
