Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Who is the beholder? You. Sweat stains on a dress shirt, a plastic bag circling in the wind, the rust on a drain pipe. Finding beauty in these examples forces us to focus on what’s in front of us, the here and now. This is a technique I use when I’m studying for an exam, getting ready for a project, and brainstorming a production track.

This allows us to refocus by temporarily losing focus. It allows the mind to rest without resting, slowing down and temporarily shifting our attention.