As you step into the bookstore, there is a certain kind of tranquility that settles above me. Paper scent, blurry cover and title, and low-curiosity ham. Whether it’s an indie store hidden in an alley, or a vast city bookstore with high ceilings and comfortable chairs, something changes the moment I enter. It’s like going home.
That instantaneous blend of comfort and curiosity has been forever with me. I was a prolific reader and was willing to travel through the world of thought through the pages of the book. I picked up one and was swept away by the reality of others, expanding my imagination and consciousness.
It’s no surprise that the bookstore still holds that pull for me. No matter the size or choice, they feel like home. They provide connections and grounding. A place where you can freely and personally explore unfamiliar ideas. Yes, it’s quiet, but far from lonely.
I feel part of something bigger when I browse those shelves or shove them into a cozy corner near others who are doing the same thing. A community that should be quiet and said. We like it! We have not spoken, discussed or shared photos of our trip. We each go on our own journey and engage in the act of human inquiry.
And the sense of belonging to sharing space with others in a calm and undiminished way is deeply nourishing for our brains and minds.
Why do our brains long for these moments?
According to Dr. Rick Hanson, we each have an evolutionary “gift” of negative bias. We tend to realize that what is wrong or that we are threatening more than good. This bias has helped our ancestors survive in dangerous environments, but in modern life, things often feel anxious, isolated or cynical, even when they are objectively successful.
“The brain is like velcro for negative experiences, and positive experiences are Teflon.” – Dr. Rick Hanson
That’s why moments in places like bookstores, concert halls, cafes, shared gardens and more are extremely important. When you gently immerse yourself in a shared space without the need for performance or excitement, you start to soften that bias. Our minds constantly scanning for danger begin to calm down. Do you move from what’s wrong to something interesting here?
Positive offset
This brings us to what we call “positive offset.” This is a concept that helps explain how perception can be changed even in neutral situations.
Dr. Barbara Fredrickson, a well-known researcher in positive psychology, teaches that small moments of positive emotions can help us to neutralize our tendency to focus on denial. She identifies the positivity of joy, gratitude, tranquility, interest, hope, pride, entertainment, inspiration, adoration, and positivity that is at the heart of the 10th of love. These don’t have to be big gestures. They can emerge from smiles, shared glances, or ideas that will spark something new within us.
Have you ever experienced any interest, adoration, tranquility, or immersion while browsing a book? Maybe you come across a book in an airport bookstore about a topic you’ve never thought of, buy it on impulse, and it opens a new door. That openness is important.
Allowing the moment to be interpreted as slightly positive opens the door to curiosity. Curiosity leads to connections with oneself, to an idea, and strangers quietly invade nearby books. Like you.
This is central to Dr. Fredrickson’s theory of “spreading and construction.” Positive emotions broaden our perceptions and build resilience. They make us more receptive. More growth ability. You can see more possibilities than problems.
Belongs to philosophy
Some of the quiet open spaces, such as bookstores, gardens and libraries, are becoming more and more rare in modern life. This is a community that does not require agreement. We can stand next to someone reading a book that doesn’t pick up ourselves, and that doesn’t matter. Sharing spaces in a peaceful and positive way.
It’s a community that feeds us. A shared presence is more important than a shared belief. Where our energy is quietly mixed together. You don’t have to agree that we feel like we belong.
Experience this kind of collective energy makes you more resilient. I let go of comparison, conflict, judgment. We simply exist together.
In many cases, we want to belong online or through shared ideology. But places like bookstores remind us that belonging doesn’t have to be screaming or exclusive. Sometimes you just have to be in the same place as others who are open to ideas and willing to wander.
This will bring to everyday life
There’s no need to wait for the next bookstore to take advantage of this feeling. Would you like to try one of these:
Go for a walk around your neighborhood, notice the diversity of others living in concert halls, and through podcasts and articles, you’ll be immersed in the energy of the collective human experience, immerse yourself in unfamiliar ideas, and discover that you’ve experienced the day with one of ten positive emotions each night
These small practices help to be based on the world that encourages us to respond often. Bringing curiosity and openness to shared spaces is important in more ways we could achieve. Please give it a try.
