Ingrid Fetell Lee
Interview by Madeleine Dore
We often hear that emotions such as joy are cultivated within, but for designer Ingrid Fetell Lee, there is a strong possibility that it can be found in our surroundings.
For over a decade, Ingrid has been devoted to answering the question: "How do tangible things create intangible joy?" both through her blog, The Aesthetics of Joy and her incredibly insightful book, Joyful: The Surprising Power Of Ordinary Things To Create Extraordinary Happiness.
Ingrid's ongoing investigation explores the powerful connection between our surroundings and our emotions, and shares how we can find more joy in daily life – even in difficult times.
In this conversation, we talk about the aspects of joy that are challenged now but why it’s more valuable than ever, finding ways to zoom out, the relationship between joy and resilience, planning what’s important but giving yourself permission to be flexible, why sometimes we just aren’t ready yet, surprise, and allowing for the rise and fall of joy and sorrow.
Ingrid Fetell Lee: designer, author and joy-finder
““In a lighthearted time, it’s easier to find joy. But in a time like this, it’s no less important, and joy is a really critical part of what makes us resilient.””
Shownotes
01:07
Creative drought – In between periods of creativity, you have likely experienced a creative drought. It’s easy to miss the good and the joy that still surrounds you during a drought, so try to remember to look for these moments and to remember that the drought will eventually pass.
03:13
This weeks’ guest – Ingrid Fetell Lee is a designer who continuously asks the question: How do tangible things create intangible joy? She explores this question both on her blog and in her book, looks for ways that our surroundings connect with our emotions, and how we can find more joy in our daily life, even in difficult times.
05:02
Our smaller self – When we go through something vast, or are around something grand, it’s hard to wrap our heads around it so often feel much smaller. This can help us to feel more connected to the things around us, such as nature, our loved ones, and the universe. The world is collectively experiencing this right now during the pandemic.
06:56
Daily routine – Ingrid’s routine is different than her usual one right now due to the pandemic and due to the fact that she’s pregnant. She’s planning her maternity leave, which takes much more preparation when you’re self-employed, but still gives herself permission to be flexible and to enjoy herself. She still manages the time to work out, go for walks with her husband, plan for her baby, and get ahead in her work.
12:37
Goals planner – Using a planner can be extremely beneficial, especially when it makes you think of your upcoming goals, what you would be happy with achieving when you’re 80-years-old, and having these goals broken up into monthly, weekly, and daily tasks. These can be both personal and professionals’ goals, but make sure they’re practical and that you’re not over-ambitious with what you can achieve in a year.
15:53
There’s a time for everything – Sometimes goals will stay on your to-do list for months on end. Rather than stressing over it, just realise that it’s not the right time for that specific goal. And that’s okay. Keep it on the list for the future, when it will be the right time, and concentrate on something else instead.
23:54
Take your opportunities – Don’t rush through a project that would benefit from moving slowly. Meet people, collect ideas, write down stories, and compile as much information as you can over a period of time to help create the project that you really want the final result to look like. Even if it takes years, you’ll create a richer and more meaningful product.
29:24
Surprise yourself – Although it sounds counterintuitive, set up little surprises for yourself to encounter throughout your day. These surprises can be as small as painting your closet a bright, cheerful colour or putting a seashell in a jacket that you won’t wear for a period of time. Use these moments to bring joy into your life and to bring back happy memories.
32:37
Making choices – It can sometimes be overwhelming to make a choice because you’re afraid to make the wrong one. Instead of staying in limbo where you’re stuck between choices, just pick whatever feels good for you. At the end of the day, there is no right or wrong. Make the choice and let go of the other options.
35:21
Abundance of senses – As we go about our usual day-to-day lives, we experience an abundance of smells, textures, and sounds. While we’re in a pandemic and many of us are in lockdown, the number of these sensations are drastically reduced. Try to reintroduce them into your life by lighting candles, use a scented cream, walk or sit on soft fabrics, and allow the sounds of nature into your home.
37:51
The natural cycle – Happiness and joy are emotions that we all strive for on a daily basis, but with the world in turmoil and so much uncertainty in our lives at the minute, this can be hard to achieve. Instead, focus on the idea that we need this range of emotions. We need to feel sorrow in order to feel joy. Life and nature flow in cycles, and we will reach a point of happiness and joy again.
42:24
Separate from your emotions – Rather than thinking that you are happy, or you are sad, try to think that you’re feeling happy or that you’re feeling sad. You are not these emotions, you’re just moving through a feeling. Everybody experiences ups and downs, and everybody experiences emotions, but they don’t define who you are.
46:07
Evening routine – Ingrid tries to find pockets of joy in her evenings by eating dinner with her husband, then winding down by reading a book. The only time that she’ll touch technology before falling asleep is if she scrolls through her Joy Spotter Society Facebook page that she has built, where people post photos of things that bring her joy. She refuses to end her day on anything other than a positive feeling.
49:50
The necessity of joy – Western culture often views joy as a childlike, frivolous, superficial emotion. Really, it’s a hardwired emotion. It’s universal. And it’s our only positive primary emotion. Experiencing joy can bring us closer to the people that we love, it relieves stress, and helps us to savour the small moments.
Findings
@ingridfetell on Instagram
The Aesthetics of Joy blog Ingrid Fetell Lee
Where Joy Hides and How To Find It TED Talk
Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
““It’s a bit like a bird building a nest. They find this little twig here, and this little piece of ribbon, and sometimes you’ll see the funniest things woven into those nests because of what they’ve managed to collect from all around, and that is how this book came together for me.””