As I continue to drown in my thesis work (spatiality/architecture/human behavoir), like any other grad student, my mind wanders around. Taking some theory with it to throw at other weird and unrelated life concepts. This week I played around with the concept of non-physical/abstract phenomena becoming Objects depending on their context.

An example of this is Peace or Contentment. We often say that we're looking for it, finding it or approaching it. We emphasize the journey we experience in order to reach Peace or Contentment in a way that physicalizes the properties of which we seek. Peace or Contentment are a location we must reach, and if we fail to reach it, we may be left feeling shame or guilt. Adversely, when we do "find it", the gratification is likely highlighted because you, now have or own the thing. The phrase "happy place", although useful in so many facets of therapy and self affirmation, can be inherently dangerous to the healing process occurring if that place is never quite reached - or is quickly “left" like a vacation spot.

However, rather than ascribing to the notion that Peace can be lost, or happiness is in a person - how can we leverage language to build a framework that encourages graciously accepting the spectrum of experience?

Love is another non-physical / abstract phenomena that typically becomes an object through our perceptions of it. We are always seeking or trying to find it, as if the *it* (Love) is an object one could simply pick up at the store, or stumble upon at the park. We sometimes say "it (Love) hit me like a rock!" or "I didn't expect to find love there".

It's a super strange reality we've inadvertently created for ourselves through our language. It both seems more like a trap than a framework that frees us. If we were to consider framing this emotional phenomena differently - I wonder how language adjustments could make these concepts less objectifiable? 

If we were to consider Love, Peace, or Happiness as resources that we “generate” rather than “find” - would that instill a sense of agency instead of desperate searching?

I further wonder how this phenomena affects our perceptions of all human emotions and relations. They are all abstract, yet we configure them to be more manageable? Emotions are unwieldy as hell, and this is far from a complete thought. But certainly a thoughtful ledger to consider.