Enjoying the Little Things
Dear [Mentat],
[...] As you imply, enjoying the little things won’t fulfill a basic need, like security, love, or esteem [referencing here terms defined in Maslow's hierarchy of needs triangle]. Besides, you’ve heard it said that people wear masks in public. They often make greater light of things than the reality warrants, and act like they enjoy them more than they actually do, just to be nice or to avoid appearing too negative or offending anyone. I’d suggest that those who [...] take thrill in the little things are either:
- gratified in their basic needs, and so can derive more pleasure from the little things because their psyches aren’t overshadowed by deprivation,
- are not gratified in all basic needs but do a good job at covering that up, or
- are not gratified in all basic needs, and believe that taking pleasure in the little things might better prepare them for the bigger task of finding gratifiers for their basic needs later on.
Again, it really depends on the individual involved. I’m skeptical of anyone who seems too happy and overly thrilled by the little things. Finding pleasure in the little things does not necessarily position one better for relationships I don’t think. But having a healthy relationship on hand will indeed position one better for enjoying the little things.
