Joyful

The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness

by Ingrid Fetell Lee

4.4(1,174 ratings)

11 min read

Brief overview

This book explores how seemingly ordinary things—such as color, shape, and nature—can spark surprising levels of happiness in our daily lives. It shows that joy is not distant or elusive, but ever-present and ready to be activated through thoughtful changes in our surroundings. Ultimately, it offers practical ways to reconnect with our innate capacity for delight.

Introduction

Have you ever felt inexplicably uplifted by a bright mural on a tired city street, or a playful arrangement of objects in a shop window? This opening section invites you to consider that joy might be closer at hand than you realize. Simple cues in our environment—lively colors, intriguing shapes, unexpected details—can stir strong feelings of delight.

This book journeys through everyday spaces to show how our homes, offices, and the outdoors can become wells of positive energy. By noticing how small contrasts, subtle details, or bursts of color affect us, we learn to see joy as not just a mood, but an active ingredient in our lives.

From a newborn’s fascination with balloons to the excitement of alarms of confetti, we realize humans are wired for delight. Our challenge is simply to rediscover this part of ourselves. Through personal stories, research insights, and practical tips, we’ll map a path to living more vibrantly, one spark of joy at a time.

Even brief encounters with playful or colorful elements can awaken long-forgotten sources of happiness.

Why Ordinary Things Matter

So often, we attribute joy to a grand vacation or a major life achievement, overlooking the potential in our daily surroundings. But a well-lit window, a bright accent wall, or even a balloon can shift our mood instantly. Researchers have demonstrated that simple environmental tweaks—like adding fresh flowers to a table—favorably impact happiness levels.

It’s easy to write these small sparks of delight off as trivial. Yet consider how you feel when you enter a drab, gray room versus one bathed in warm light and color. Our minds subconsciously scan for signals of life and vitality in the environment, and bright hues naturally invite curiosity and engagement.

By reawakening our awareness of these signals, we see that many so-called trivialities—like a dash of colorful décor or a playful piece of artwork—can actually have profound effects on our well-being. They animate our senses and trigger an instinctive sense of surprise that keeps our spirits lively throughout the day.

"Joy often hides in plain sight—within the everyday objects and experiences we take for granted."

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What is Joyful about?

In "Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness," author Ingrid Fetell Lee takes us on an eye-opening journey to rediscover joy in the overlooked, the mundane, and the seemingly ordinary elements of life. Through thoughtful examination, Lee unveils how factors like color, shape, and patterns in our surroundings wield the power to transform our emotional landscapes, sparking joy even in our everyday lives.

Lee's exploration extends beyond mere surface aesthetics — it delves into the deeper workings of our minds and our environment. The book challenges the conventional perception that joy is tied to grand accomplishments or significant life events, asserting instead that joy is a state that can be generated and nurtured through conscious interaction with our settings. By reconnecting with our innate capacity for delight, the text illustrates transformative ideas that reshape our spaces into wells of palpable happiness.

Equipped with research-backed insights and practical advice, "Joyful" is a rich resource for anyone looking to lead a more vibrant and fulfilling life. It encourages a shift in perspective, recognizing joy as not just a feeling but a component of choice and design that can permeate our daily existence.

Review of Joyful

"Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness" by Ingrid Fetell Lee delivers a compelling narrative that's both informative and uplifting. The book’s distinct strength lies in its unique premise: that everyday objects and designs can invoke profound joy. Through vivid storytelling and carefully curated research, Lee illustrates the often understated impact of small aesthetic elements such as colors, textures, and shapes on personal well-being.

The book isn’t just theoretical; it offers tangible takeaways. Whether you’re looking to brighten your personal living space or redesign a workspace to maximize creativity and well-being, Lee presents actionable tips that readers can immediately implement. Her accessible writing style makes the content approachable for a diverse readership, from design enthusiasts to those simply seeking more positivity in their daily lives.

While broad in its appeal, "Joyful" also resonates particularly well with individuals pursuing a more mindful and intentional life. Lee's incorporation of practical exercises, alongside inspirational anecdotes, encourages readers to embrace joy as a dynamic and deliberate component of life experience. By the end, most will be inspired to adopt her philosophy, making conscious choices that invite happiness into the everyday. Highly recommended for anyone ready to infuse joy into their life’s surroundings.

Who should read Joyful?

Interior designers looking to create more inviting and joyful spaces.
Individuals seeking inspiration to cultivate positivity in their daily lives.
Professionals in the realms of psychology and well-being interested in the links between environment and emotion.
Educators and parents aiming to create nurturing environments for children.
Urban planners and architects committed to designing cities that promote public happiness.

About the author

Ingrid Fetell Lee is a designer, author, and speaker who explores the profound effects of our surroundings on our emotions and well-being. She holds a Master's in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor's in English and Creative Writing from Princeton University. With over 15 years of design and branding experience, she has led impactful programs for renowned companies such as Target, Condé Nast, and American Express, and was a founding faculty member in the Products of Design program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her work has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, Wired, and Fast Company, and her TED talk "Where Joy Hides and How to Find It" has been viewed over 17 million times.