Dear Andre,

Beauty isn’t optional. 

Shortcuts: (3.5 min read)

• Beauty isn’t optional.

  • Why You Don’t Create Beauty (And What It’s Costing …

  • Breaking the Cycle

  • Creativity is a Muscle (Parkers Rule)

  • Practical Tips for Creating Beauty

  • Tangents in Photography (and Life)

  • Beauty Isn’t Optional

  • OAP: Order, Art, People

  • Why Order Comes First

I know that seems random, especially since I basically turned into the Hulk and yelled at you last week. But hear me out: I know you’re taking action. You’ve installed the Listen-Capture-Action framework, which, let’s be honest, is basically the iOS update for your brain. Good job on that.

But let’s dig into something deeper:

Why You Don’t Create Beauty (And What It’s Costing You)

Imagine if the sun didn’t rise, the trees weren’t green, and flowers never bloomed. If life was just grayscale. Like watching Netflix but everything looks like the "before" part of a home renovation show—bleak and uninspiring.

Could you create anything meaningful in such a bleak world? Probably not.

But thankfully, that’s not the world we live in. So why do we act like it is?

You’re not lacking creativity because you’re lazy or uninspired—it’s because you’re tired. Life has you playing Whac-A-Mole with deadlines, and guess what? Beauty isn’t even in the game—it’s sitting in the corner, eating popcorn, waiting for its turn.

Here’s the deal: 

When you don’t create beauty, it drains your energy.

You’ve got a business (or the dream of one), and you’re probably thinking, "Daniel, I’m barely surviving! How am I supposed to fit beauty into this mess?"

I get it. It feels overwhelming.

But let’s flip the script: What if creating beauty gave you the energy you need to get through all the chaos?

Imagine being so energized that you blitz through work like a caffeinated superhero. (No cape needed—those things are a liability.)

Breaking the Cycle

Here’s a crazy thought: When you start creating beauty, you don’t just feel better—you start seeing better. People. Ideas. Opportunities. It’s like switching your life from 480p to 4K Ultra HD.

If you don’t create beauty, you won’t feel inspired to keep creating. 

And when you’re stuck in your own messy bubble, it’s hard to see the best in other people.

But when you invest in beauty, you’ll notice the good in others. You’ll stop caring so much about what people think of you (let’s be real, most people aren’t thinking about you anyway) and care more about lifting others up. That’s freedom, my friend.

Creativity is a Muscle (Parkers Rule)

Like going to the gym, the more you flex it, the stronger it gets. Unlike the gym, you don’t have to post a sweaty selfie to prove you’re doing it.

Creativity isn’t optional. Inspiration is everywhere if you’re looking for it.

As Erwin Raphael McManus said:

"It was beauty that saved my soul and prepared me for Jesus." 

"Anyone can create art, but only some people can create beauty." 

Practical Tips for Creating Beauty

Some beauty is about trying low-stakes experiments. For me, it’s photography.

I’m also discovering math can be beautiful. (Yes, math. I didn’t believe it either until Fibonacci numbers and the golden ratio blew my mind.)

Tangents in Photography (and Life)

In photography, tangents are those annoying things that pull focus from the subject.

Here’s an example:

Distraction: the glass at the bottom and to the right.

Boom. Focus restored.

Do you see the difference?

This makes the subject—the thing that matters—stand out so much more. Even if it’s just me leaving the gym. (and looking like a sweaty avocado)

Beauty Isn’t Optional

So, how do you create beauty without becoming overwhelmed or accidentally joining a Pinterest cult?

Here’s what works for me:

1. Order Creates Beauty. 

When my space is clean and organized, my brain feels like it just got a spa day.

Disorder? It’s like running with rocks in your shoes—why make life harder?

2. Create Without Pressure. 

Have at least one block of time where you can create for fun. No deadlines. No expectations.

3. Bring Beauty into Everyday Life. 

This isn’t about perfection—it’s about noticing the small, good things.

OAP: Order, Art, People

If you haven’t fully embraced the Listen step from the Listen-Capture-Action framework, go read it. It’s like the secret sauce for building beautiful relationships.

Imagine a world where everyone made each other feel seen and loved. Sounds like a Hallmark movie, but hey, I’d watch it.

Why Order Comes First

Now, Andre, I know you’re about to argue that people should come first.

And I agree with you. But here’s the thing:

You’re a Type-A achiever. If you focus on people first, you won’t give them your best because you’ll still be mentally solving your unresolved problems.

Create order first. 

It frees you to put people first—and show up as your best self.

Well, that’s all for now, my friend.

Beauty isn’t optional. 

Go create order. Create art. (Maybe don’t create people just yet—that’s a whole other level of commitment.)

P.S. This Idea was generated from this podcast. Starting at 32:20

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