The Beauty Of Having An Eye For Detail

A wise heart is nourished by small details, things made with attention, an eye for detail, and a love for the good and the authentic. Details that are not worth money and without giving anything in return. Because… we have to admit, it’s amazing how the smallest detail can change a dark day for the better.

Anyone who admires Impressionism will undoubtedly know Monet’s famous work: ‘Impression, sunrise’. This work, which gave name to the revolutionary artistic movement of 1874, is characterized by its interesting brushwork. The brushstrokes are free, fast and almost disorderly. They attract attention. If we look closely at the painting, it seems confusing and almost chaotic. But when the viewer distances itself, the magic appears and we see the meaning of the work.

Every brushstroke, every detail of this great work is important. Together they create an image that almost moves. A sunrise in which you can feel the tranquility of the water. Every brushstroke brings light, air, and contrast, the boats in the distance and the vibrancy of the sky spilling over into the water.

It takes hundreds of delicate and precise details to bring a work of art to life. Something very similar is taking place in our daily lives. The attention that others give us… words, preferences, special moments…  all these little things that are given to us, that come from the heart, also bring us light and nourish us. They accompany us. They are the living canvas on which we build a meaningful reality.

To appreciate the little things, we need an open heart

Magic exists. You don’t have to look for it in the latest app, or the new series on Netflix, nor in the fun of buying an expensive car or computer. You won’t necessarily find it in these places. Authentic beauty hides in the everyday details of our lives.

Some things can only be appreciated through the art of observation and receptivity. By seeing life through emotions and living in the present.

Take, for example, a spider’s web at sunrise. It is no longer invisible, as it is covered with small dew pearls that form a fascinating natural spectacle. We see the same in a child who looks at his father with admiration as he tells a story about two people meeting each other for the first time. Perhaps the new friends are smiling because they find themselves reading the same book. It’s this, and other everyday details that sometimes make us so happy. It is nuances of our reality that inspire us and that linger in our memories.

Well, to be open to these details every day, we need to be completely connected to the present moment. We mentioned the name of Claude Monet at the beginning. Like many others, this painter could enjoy nature for hours: fields in bloom at sunset, water in a pond…

This connection to what is happening around us is something we are definitely losing. We live in a society full of stimuli (too much), where little is observed but much is shared. Where details are not important, because it is the impact that counts. The fast news and clickbait.

As an interesting detail I would like to point out the thalamus. This structure allows us to apply a good filter of attention when we perceive. It is a brain region that is mainly associated with our consciousness.

Therefore, we might say that a good way to expand our consciousness involves adopting a receptive attitude; strengthening that wise and curious gaze that, guided by emotion, can see when the beauty of the everyday emerges.

People with an eye for detail give time, not things

Scientists at the University of Rochester conducted a study several years ago. The research, published in the journal Current Biology, showed that people with an eye for detail are more intelligent. Their natural powers of observation allow them to focus on the small aspects of reality that not everyone notices. In addition, very sensitive people also have this talent.

All of this leads us to the conclusion that the people who know how to appreciate the details are also the ones who take the most care of them and are best able to give them to others. So, those who are able to pay attention to the small details that make up the fabric of our lives will be able to give meaning to relationships, promote respect and appreciation, and build stronger and happier relationships with others.

We must understand that giving moments instead of things is an art. We must learn how to put each brush stroke in place so that it can give light. We have to choose the right color. Both tasks are well worth our time and effort.