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Abstract

-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*WS3qWKPTOSNUNKyT5_KbNA.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo art created by author</figcaption></figure>French phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908–1961) views the sublime breaching experience as a way of (momentarily) eliminating one’s feeling of being familiar with the surrounding world, and thereby as an opening to astonishment and wonder. This kind of opening is an important part of gaining insight into the essence of things.When we are open to astonishment we are mindfully and sensorially present. Unable to get blown away by the wonders of the world the human spirit declines. Put differently, closed mindedness doesn’t get you anywhere; it doesn’t make you grow, and it closes you off to the potential for having life affirming, startling experiences that might inspire you to change unfortunate habits or assumptions. Even though we live our lives in familiar, everyday settings, surround ourselves with ordinary objects, and mostly engaging in well-known activities, the ability to view things from above, to wonder, be astonished, or inspired to think critically about well-known phenomena is of great importance to our ability to live a free, authentic, non-automated life.The sublime aesthetic experience is a doorway to insight — whether the initiator is a piece of ready-made art, a critical design-object, vast nature, or foreign environments — as it ignites the edifying process of eidetic reduction (You can read more about eidetic reduction <a href="https://readmedium.com/transcending-perception-90c2d9268910">here</a> — basically put, it is a method that allows you to grasp the essences of phenomena and sensations.)<figure id="bbcc"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*EdpeBYcN2hobDcEYdSGorg.jpeg"><figcaption>Photo art created by author</figcaption></figure>When we partially moved to Bali several years ago, I was in an almost constant state of shock (which was a bit too intense to be edifying). If too many challenges characterize your daily where-abouts for a prolonged period, you start longing for constancy and routines, or at least for a balance between familiarity and challenges. I guess that is the yin-yang of human psychology. The early days of our Bali move were characterized by lots of changes and lots of challenges on a daily basis. Adapting to a new environment with a different climate, unknown culture, new people, and a constant overload of new sensory input takes time — maybe even lots of time.We must allow for our bodies and

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minds to gradually acclimatize and adjust, and not rush this process. We must allow for eidetic reduction to take place.Transitions mold us like clay in the hands of a ceramist until we fit into our new environment; they change us, shape us, and build us up. But we have to flow with them — fluid like water. We must submit to the process. We must dare to let go of the comforting control that we experience in familiar surroundings and situations, if we wish to grow and expand our horizon, and possibly change outdated ways of our lives (or maybe an unsustainable lifestyle). Having an overload of altering, challenging experiences on a daily basis can be overwhelming; the balance between familiarity and challenging encounters with newness is important to a harmonious life.However, desperately working to keep one’s lifestyle, human relations, and surroundings the same (which is a human need that I at times certainly recognize) doesn’t make sense, and isn’t a real option either.Thousands of years ago a wise man said:<blockquote id="7d48">“No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man” (Heraclitus, Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher, 544 BCE)</blockquote>Everything is always in flux; nothing is static. Even if we stay in the same place, things and people around us change—and so do we. Life is change. And opening up to change, instead of fighting it is growth.Heraclitus is also known for having said that “Change is the only constant.” Just like nature, like seasons, like water that flows in a river, plants that grow and whither, and the altering sky above us; people and life changes all the time. Nothing is constant. Not even our moods, wishes, and dreams. Changes normally happen gradually, which makes it easier to float with them. Abrupt changes, whether chosen changes or intruding ones, are harder to cope with. Nevertheless, coping with change is a human condition.We praise the changes in nature: sunsets and sunrises, fog that eases, rain that begins and ends, the first buds in spring, the yellow and red leaves in autumn, the altering shape of the moon, etc.; we should honor the changes of life and surrender to the periodic loss of control that changes cause. The ability to sometimes let go of control is not weakness; it is a sign of strength and resilience.Let’s connect! <a href="https://www.instagram.com/the_immaterialist/">https://www.instagram.com/the_immaterialist/</a></article></body>

The Beauty of Disruption: Sublime Aesthetics and Personal Growth

How embracing change can lead to strength and resilience

I have previously written about the sublime aesthetic experience as well as intuition, and about the connection between navigating the world intuitively and surrendering to groundbreaking sublime experiences.

In this article I will elaborate hereon as well as discuss the profound connection between aesthetic experiences and personal enlightenment.

The connection between sublime aesthetic experiences and intuitive insights originates in the sublime moment of breaching. When having a sublime experience, we are momentarily thrown off course. However, even though the momentary disruption can feel challenging and even uncomfortable, the sublime aesthetic experience contains instantly nourishing grounding-qualities.

The sublime aesthetic experience is, importantly, an aesthetic experience, which implies that it is not interlinked with real danger. The experience might be extreme; it might dare us or confront us with our fears or prejudices and tear our lifeworld’s “veil” apart momentarily. But it is not an intimidating, frightening, or life-threatening experience. A sublime aesthetic experience is a beautiful experience, just not in the pretty, picturesque, or cozy kind of way. It is therefore characterized by being aesthetically nourishing and allowing us to feel at home in the world (after the initial discomfort of the challenge has been overcome).

The difference between truly threatening experiences, like being stuck in the middle of a crazy thunderstorm with nowhere to seek shelter, and the aesthetically challenging sublime experience is the “aesthetic filter.” The aesthetic filter might be constituted by the safety and comfort of the theater or cinema seat, or by the protection of a shelter in the midst of a thunderstorm that enables us to enjoy the beauty of lightening and dark skies.

Beauty experiences are grounding — whether the grounding effect lies in our assumptions and expectations being met or challenged.

French phenomenologist Maurice Merleau-Ponty (1908–1961) views the sublime breaching experience as a way of (momentarily) eliminating one’s feeling of being familiar with the surrounding world, and thereby as an opening to astonishment and wonder. This kind of opening is an important part of gaining insight into the essence of things.

When we are open to astonishment we are mindfully and sensorially present. Unable to get blown away by the wonders of the world the human spirit declines. Put differently, closed mindedness doesn’t get you anywhere; it doesn’t make you grow, and it closes you off to the potential for having life affirming, startling experiences that might inspire you to change unfortunate habits or assumptions. Even though we live our lives in familiar, everyday settings, surround ourselves with ordinary objects, and mostly engaging in well-known activities, the ability to view things from above, to wonder, be astonished, or inspired to think critically about well-known phenomena is of great importance to our ability to live a free, authentic, non-automated life.

The sublime aesthetic experience is a doorway to insight — whether the initiator is a piece of ready-made art, a critical design-object, vast nature, or foreign environments — as it ignites the edifying process of eidetic reduction (You can read more about eidetic reduction here — basically put, it is a method that allows you to grasp the essences of phenomena and sensations.)

When we partially moved to Bali several years ago, I was in an almost constant state of shock (which was a bit too intense to be edifying). If too many challenges characterize your daily where-abouts for a prolonged period, you start longing for constancy and routines, or at least for a balance between familiarity and challenges. I guess that is the yin-yang of human psychology. The early days of our Bali move were characterized by lots of changes and lots of challenges on a daily basis. Adapting to a new environment with a different climate, unknown culture, new people, and a constant overload of new sensory input takes time — maybe even lots of time.

We must allow for our bodies and minds to gradually acclimatize and adjust, and not rush this process. We must allow for eidetic reduction to take place.

Transitions mold us like clay in the hands of a ceramist until we fit into our new environment; they change us, shape us, and build us up. But we have to flow with them — fluid like water. We must submit to the process. We must dare to let go of the comforting control that we experience in familiar surroundings and situations, if we wish to grow and expand our horizon, and possibly change outdated ways of our lives (or maybe an unsustainable lifestyle). Having an overload of altering, challenging experiences on a daily basis can be overwhelming; the balance between familiarity and challenging encounters with newness is important to a harmonious life.

However, desperately working to keep one’s lifestyle, human relations, and surroundings the same (which is a human need that I at times certainly recognize) doesn’t make sense, and isn’t a real option either.

Thousands of years ago a wise man said:

“No man ever steps into the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man” (Heraclitus, Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher, 544 BCE)

Everything is always in flux; nothing is static. Even if we stay in the same place, things and people around us change—and so do we. Life is change. And opening up to change, instead of fighting it is growth.

Heraclitus is also known for having said that “Change is the only constant.” Just like nature, like seasons, like water that flows in a river, plants that grow and whither, and the altering sky above us; people and life changes all the time. Nothing is constant. Not even our moods, wishes, and dreams. Changes normally happen gradually, which makes it easier to float with them. Abrupt changes, whether chosen changes or intruding ones, are harder to cope with. Nevertheless, coping with change is a human condition.

We praise the changes in nature: sunsets and sunrises, fog that eases, rain that begins and ends, the first buds in spring, the yellow and red leaves in autumn, the altering shape of the moon, etc.; we should honor the changes of life and surrender to the periodic loss of control that changes cause. The ability to sometimes let go of control is not weakness; it is a sign of strength and resilience.

Let’s connect! https://www.instagram.com/the_immaterialist/