The path to Tranquility (spring)
2. Make every moment fulfilling and interesting
Human progress not only comes from the diligent pursuit and continuous breakthroughs in unknown truths, but also relies on the stable force condensed in familiarity. It is this spirit of exploration that has driven civilization forward and given us hope for the future. When we are eager to try new dishes, explore new environments, and experience unprecedented feelings, freshness is like a compass, guiding us forward. However, on the road to exploring the unknown, familiarity always accompanies us, giving us a safe haven and the power to control every adventure. Familiarity and freshness seem to be opposites, but they nourish and overlap each other in life. It is this delicate balance that makes up our colorful life.
When we travel, exotic streets, unique foods, and unfamiliar landscapes often spark creativity and inspiration. At that moment, the freshness spreads from the senses to the soul, making life full of possibilities. Yet, when our routines finally return to normal, we may be surprised to find that familiar life seems to have lost its former luster. This is not because repetition itself has no value, but because we often equate repetition with mediocrity and laziness. In fact, even if the shape of the cup of coffee every morning is similar, its temperature, light, and even our current mood are changing invisibly. These subtle differences are all new things hidden in life, waiting for us to savor them carefully.
Habits often make us numb to the scenery around us: taking the same route to work every day will eventually make us ignore the vivid changes along the way. When we try to change our route or pay attention to details that we usually don’t notice, the sense of freshness in our hearts will quietly revive. Science has proven that when the brain is stimulated by something new, dopamine is released, which is the chemical basis for our feelings of pleasure and freshness. Therefore, fresh experiences are like sparks that ignite creativity, while familiarity is the basis for creativity to continue burning, allowing us to stay awake while exploring the unknown.
Repetition is not negative; it allows us to build experience and improve skills in our daily lives, which reduces error rates and stress. A familiar morning can set a calm tone for the day. The solution lies in proactive change - injecting small variations into fixed patterns, such as trying to add exotic spices when cooking old dishes, or changing the decoration and music in the home, so that everything familiar can inadvertently exude another kind of brilliance and vitality.
An ancient Greek philosopher once said: "You cannot step into the same river twice." It reminds us not only that life is constantly changing, but also that even the most familiar landscapes can take on new aspects as time and circumstances change. Culturally, some views advocate tradition and persistence, emphasizing finding inner peace in continuity; while other views encourage breaking the rules and being innovative. It is in the intersection of these two ways of thinking that we find a wisdom that embraces new experiences while still preserving our roots and traditions.
The interweaving of familiarity and novelty actually reflects our common need for exploration and stability. When we first learn a new skill, the motivation to explore new things encourages us to take the first step bravely; and with continuous practice, the novelty gradually turns into familiarity and becomes a solid support in life. If we blindly chase the latest trends, we may feel anxious and exhausted; but if we stick to the old ways, we will stagnate and miss countless wonderful moments. When traveling, we can boldly embrace the new things in the world; when we return to our familiar home, we can also quietly reflect and organize our insights from the journey, allowing our minds to accumulate and improve at a deeper level.
In life, a small piece of chocolate or a familiar melody can often evoke childhood memories and emotional resonance. Perhaps, a seemingly ordinary chat with old friends can often discover unexpected new things about each other, making this familiar brotherly relationship shine again. We come into this world with a sense of familiarity, grow in the alternation of the old and the new, and eventually mature into an ever-fresh consciousness.
The reason why freshness is attractive is that we have long been accustomed to the process of pursuing freshness, and the expectation and experience of freshness have been internalized into an instinct. The deeper reason is that when we first come into this world, the first thing we feel is freshness, and in essence, freshness is the feeling we are most familiar with. New things often contain elements that are familiar to us, so exploring new things is like rediscovering our familiar selves. This deep sense of familiarity creates a solid sense of security that allows us to boldly pursue new things.
Deep relationships, such as love, are also rooted in a mixture of freshness and familiarity. When we first meet, the seeds of love are planted due to the freshness, and as we get more familiar with each other, the flowers of passion bloom. Then, through the little bits of care in daily life, we can cultivate a strong and sincere relationship. The warm greetings in the morning and the gentle tacit understanding during dinner injected a familiar and solid force into the relationship between each other, giving birth to endless laughter and topics. The heartbeat of our lives, in its seemingly repetitive rhythm, also contains unique rhythms and surprises; as long as we pay attention to the changes in our lives, we can constantly discover new things in the cycle.
When boredom or dullness creeps in, we might as well ask ourselves: "How can I feel differently in the next moment?" Whether it is changing a walking route, appreciating a book again, or trying to look at familiar people and things from a different perspective, every small change may become an opportunity to stimulate inner freshness. As long as we embrace love and curiosity, we will find that life has infinite possibilities and can make every moment fulfilling and interesting.
1. It's time to rise out of the water
3. Forming a collective full of wisdom
