How to Like Everything More

7 days ago

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The author describes their ability to intensely enjoy various experiences, from music to food, as a skill that can be developed.
Enjoyment is presented as a set of micro-skills that can be trained, such as focusing on different aspects of an experience or adopting curiosity.
Techniques for enhancing enjoyment include looking beyond the obvious, letting in intensity, and developing personal associations (synesthesia).
Developing a crush on the creator of a work can deepen appreciation, as can imagining the effort behind its creation.
Noticing bodily reactions to experiences and predicting outcomes can increase engagement and enjoyment.
Building a critical vocabulary and creating personal terms for experiences can enhance understanding and appreciation.
Memorizing details and building context around a work can enrich the experience and provide deeper insights.
Pretending to be a buyer or finding alternative registers of enjoyment (like begrudging enjoyment) can offer new perspectives.
Giving experiences a second chance and identifying flaws can lead to a more nuanced and deeper appreciation.
The post concludes with personal anecdotes illustrating how these techniques have enriched the author's and others' experiences.

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