Vibe Awareness
Aesthetics and Autumn
Summer is fading away. The trees lean into a final burst of colour as they prepare for winter. My capacity for introspection fades with the season, leaving me seeking succour in productivity.
When I feel uneasy, my gut response is to flee — browsing, chatting, getting shit done. I’m left worse for wear — losing track of self-care in states of absorption. Introspection doesn’t come naturally to me — I need to make a conscious move to access my needs.
I talked to a woman recently, who told me that she has a permanent awareness of her emotional state and physical needs — and how she’s impacted by the spaces she’s in. If a light is too bright, she can sense its impact, turn it off and light some candles. If a messy shelf ruins the feng shui of a room, she notices and cleans it.
I get affected by harsh lights and untidiness, but I don’t notice the impact. When I feel good, I am aware of my emotional state and use discomfort as a cue to scan for sources of unease. When summer fades away, I lose this ability. Being used to having it available, it’s easy to let joy-of-effort turn into distraction-seeking productivity.
Lacking vibe awareness is rough. I have never once in my life lit a candle for my own cosiness’ sake, or arranged my solo meals to be aesthetically pleasing. When I’m in the company of others (mostly women), I notice them doing this often — and I’ve adopted habits of putting in extra effort in shared meals, to avoid mooching on the vibe awareness of others.
I keep my mood up using recurring introspection-reminders, cleaning habits and timer-based lightning. I prioritize my well-being, slowing down and breathing deeply in order to feel better. These strategies all work out, but I sense that there’s growth to be had when it comes to vibes and aesthetics.
I’m currently in the process of developing my personal aesthetic, putting effort into clothes and hair. I feel better when I look good. Maybe it’s time to extend this, putting more effort into the aesthetics of my life?
All around, trees are bursting into colour. What better time to dive into beauty?
P.S: I’d love to guide you through an inquiry on the things that matter to you. Sessions are 60-90 min, and run in the gifting economy (pay what you want).
Here’s a statement from my client Frans-Lukas, shared with his consent:
“I've attended Jonathan's philosophical guidance sessions four times, and the experience has been transformative. […] I often share the concepts discovered in Jonathan's sessions with my friends, and they've significantly impacted my life.“