A Good Equation

“Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

William Morris, 19th century British artist, designer, writer, social innovator

This William Morris quote is full of wisdom. It showed up in my blog a month ago as wisdom, and it’s showing up today as an equation.

First, a few definitions:

• It’s oft been said that one’s house is a metaphor for one’s life. Or, at the very least, the house reflects the self. So, for our purposes today, let’s broaden the definition of “house” to “life”
• “Useful”-“serviceable for an end or purpose, or, of a valuable or productive kind” (Merriam-Webster)
• “Beautiful” - “exalts the mind or spirit, excellent quality” (Merriam-Webster)

So, have nothing in your life which isn’t useful (productive or serviceable for an end or purpose) or beautiful (uplifting and good). Wow. When you put it like that, a lot of things become clear. Our choices, our “yes-es,” will fit one of those categories. Or, perhaps both.

What we do, how we spend our time, what we eat, who we associate with. And I encourage you to think below the surface. “Helping someone” sounds like it fits the “beautiful” category, for example, as does “listening to someone.” Because we think of those as good things. And so they are. Just not always.

• On "helpfulness": Is there a situation in which helping a friend is not the most beautiful thing? Would it be more beautiful (better) for this friend to help themselves out, and be their own hero today?
• On "listening": Last week, I ran into an acquaintance who typically has a lot to say. I was on a schedule, this person was clearly not. After talking a few minutes, I could hear the conversation becoming a lengthy one, putting me behind, and cementing our relationship as “we bump into each other and she talks and I smile and fall behind schedule and feel frustrated.” I knew that listening certainly wasn’t useful to my day, and actually wasn’t beautiful, either. Speaking up for your needs (in my case, to get back on track with my day) is a good thing. I did, we parted amicably, and that was that.

Using the “useful or beautiful” test will help you spend your time better. It doesn’t mean that you never get to goof off. Sometimes, if you’re stressed out, that’s going to be the most useful thing you can do. It’s simply going to help you to not spend your time goofing off when it’s not a “useful” thing but a “procrastination” thing.

Think about your life this week in light of the useful and the beautiful. And see how your schedule and your priorities improve.

* picture: a classic William Morris textile