Our Five Senses Tell Us Why Less Is More

Summary

The article advocates for the philosophy of "less is more" in relation to our five senses, suggesting that moderation in what we perceive can lead to greater appreciation and happiness in life.

Abstract

The article "Our Five Senses Tell Us Why Less Is More" explores the concept of minimalism through the lens of our sensory experiences. It argues that by being selective in what we see, hear, touch, smell, and taste, we can enhance our overall well-being. The author emphasizes that constantly seeking more can lead to overlooking the important things in life, such as the people and experiences we already have. By not fixating on what we lack, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for our current circumstances. The piece also touches on the importance of discerning constructive criticism from hate, suggesting that hearing less from those who do not know us can improve our quality of life. In the context of the pandemic, the article advises that reducing physical contact and exposure to potential hazards is crucial for safety. Lastly, it posits that limiting our sensory experiences, particularly with taste, can lead to a greater enjoyment and satisfaction with what we have.

Opinions

Sight: Over-looking can cause us to miss the valuable aspects of our lives that are already present; appreciating what we have leads to a more fulfilling life.
Hearing: In an age where hate speech is prevalent, it's beneficial to limit our exposure to negative comments and focus on constructive feedback from those who understand our work.
Touch and Smell: During the pandemic, minimizing contact and proximity to others is essential for health and safety; less physical interaction can reduce the risk of disease transmission.
Taste: Overindulgence in variety can lead to a diminished appreciation for what we consume; simplicity in our choices can enhance satisfaction and happiness.

Sight

The more you look, the less you see.

You have probably heard about the quote sometimes. The more you look, the less you see. Meaning the less you look, the more you see.

When talking about life in general, I think we have to look less. In a sense, when you look too much, you forget the really important things. You keep on looking for things you do not have, that you do not see the things around you, things that you already have, things that matter.

Don’t keep on looking more, instead, learn to be happy with the things around you. You will realize how the less you look, the more you appreciate your life and those around you.

Hearing

We live in an era where hate comments and all those things are very common. The freedom of speech is overly glorified that people start to justify hate comments, including those that are very subjective or untrue. In this sense, I think, the less you hear, the better your life will be.

I think in this life, no matter how correctly you do things, people who dislike you will always exist because that is the nature of life. You can not be everybody’s best friend. But then, you need to separate criticism and hate to develop ourselves. I think when it comes to this, it is better to seek some criticism from experts instead of commoners who do not even know you or your work.

The point is, hear less, live more.

Touch and Smell

Less is more, in terms of “touch” and “smell”, is very relatable to our condition today. We are taught today that in this pandemic, the less you touch your face or things or other people, the better it is. The less you let things or people coming closer to your nose, the better it is.

When touching something, especially your face, the probability of transmitting diseases is higher because you are directly contacting the source of disease (your hands, as it has touched thousands of things) with your body cavity. Also, we start to distance ourselves from people, we wear masks and face shields, all just so we don’t suck in all the smell (that might contain viruses).

This leads to the point that the less you touch or smell, the better it is for your safety. Less is more.

Taste

Contrary to the popular beliefs (the more you taste, the better it is). I think sometimes tasting less can be better. We are not talking about taste just in the scope of food, we are talking taste in a broader sense. But let’s make an example of using taste in terms of food.

When you have tasted too many things, you forget how to love them. Let’s say you have sushi, burgers, Thai food, Korean food, etc. all in your table every day. You appreciate them less, sooner or later you just get bored, then you want more. But when you have just one type of food, you start to appreciate more. It is easier for you to be happy simply because you taste less. It is just like, if you give poor people a Ferrari, they will be super happy, but if you give it to some crazy rich people, it will mean nothing.

That is why, the less you taste, the easier you can be happy.