Optimism is a choice. Honestly, sometimes it’s a really hard one to make when you’re staring at a pile of bills or a flickering check engine light. But there’s this specific phrase—borrow great big beautiful life—that has started popping up in creative circles and wellness communities. It isn't just some catchy slogan for a coffee mug. It’s a deliberate mindset shift. It’s about the realization that we don’t always have to "own" happiness to experience it. Sometimes, we just need to lean into the beauty that already exists in the world around us.
You’ve probably felt it before. That moment where you see a sunset so vivid it feels fake, or you hear a piece of music that makes your chest ache in a good way. That’s it. That’s the feeling.
The idea of a "great big beautiful tomorrow" has roots in classic Americana and Disney-era futurism—specifically the Sherman Brothers' song for the Carousel of Progress—but the modern evolution of wanting to borrow great big beautiful life is something deeper. It’s about temporary immersion. It acknowledges that life is messy and often exhausting, yet there is a massive, sprawling beauty available to us if we know where to look. We are borrowing the energy of the world to refuel our own.
The Psychology of Borrowed Joy
Why "borrow"? Because "owning" implies a permanent state of being that is, frankly, impossible to maintain. If you try to force yourself to be happy 24/7, you end up with toxic positivity. It’s exhausting. It’s fake.
When we borrow great big beautiful life, we’re admitting that our current tank might be empty. We are looking at the vastness of human experience, art, nature, and connection, and saying, "I need a piece of that right now." It’s a form of external regulation. Psychology calls this "savoring." Dr. Fred Bryant, a social psychologist at Loyola University Chicago, has spent decades researching how people can consciously prolong or intensify positive experiences. He found that when we stop to truly acknowledge a positive moment, we aren't just feeling good—we are building a mental reserve.
Think of it like a library. You don't own the books, but the knowledge you gain from them stays with you.
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Breaking the Cycle of "Not Enough"
Most of us spend our days in a "deficiency" mindset. We don't have enough time. We don't have enough money. We don't have enough followers. This constant focus on lack makes it impossible to see the "great big beautiful" part of the world.
To borrow great big beautiful life, you have to stop looking at what’s missing. You have to pivot. It’s like changing the lens on a camera from a macro lens (focused on tiny flaws) to a wide-angle lens. Suddenly, you see the horizon. You see the context.
How to Actually "Borrow" the Good Stuff
It’s easy to say "look at the bright side," but it’s harder to do when you’re burnt out. Borrowing requires action. It’s not passive.
- Immersion through Art. Go to a museum. Don't look at everything. Find one painting that feels "big." Stand there for ten minutes. Let the artist’s vision fill the space where your stress usually sits.
- The Nature Pivot. There is a reason "forest bathing" (Shinrin-yoku) became a global health trend. It works. When you stand under a canopy of old-growth trees, you are literally borrowing the oxygen and the ancient, slow-moving energy of the forest. It makes your problems feel smaller, which is a massive relief.
- Curated Inspiration. Stop scrolling through rage-bait. If you want to borrow great big beautiful life, you have to follow people who are actually creating beauty. Architects, gardeners, historians, even urban explorers. Fill your digital feed with things that make you say "wow" instead of things that make you say "ugh."
The Science of Awe and Perspective
We can't talk about a "great big beautiful life" without talking about awe. Researchers at UC Berkeley, specifically through the Greater Good Science Center, have found that experiencing awe—that feeling of being in the presence of something vast—actually reduces inflammation in the body.
It’s physiological.
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When you experience awe, your "self" shrinks. This is known as the "small self" effect. When your ego gets smaller, your connection to the rest of humanity gets bigger. You realize you are part of a giant, interconnected web. This is the ultimate way to borrow great big beautiful life. You aren't just an individual struggling with a mortgage; you’re a biological miracle living on a pressurized rock hurtling through space.
It sounds cheesy. Kinda. But the data shows it works.
The Disney Connection: More Than Just a Theme Park Song
We have to address the elephant in the room. The phrase is a direct nod to "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow," commissioned by GE for the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair. It was a song about progress and the belief that the future would be better than the past.
But here’s the thing: the future didn’t turn out exactly how the 1960s imagined it. We don't all have flying cars, and we certainly have plenty of new problems. However, the spirit of that song—the idea that beauty is just a dream away—is what people are trying to reclaim when they talk about wanting to borrow great big beautiful life. They are looking for that mid-century optimism in a post-modern world.
Practical Steps to Change Your Frequency
If you’re ready to actually apply this, you need a strategy. You can't just wait for beauty to hit you over the head. You have to go out and "borrow" it like a cup of sugar from a neighbor.
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Audit Your Environment.
Look at your living space. Is it functional but soul-crushing? You don't need a renovation. You need one thing that represents "the big life" to you. Maybe it's a giant print of a mountain range. Maybe it's just keeping a bowl of fresh lemons on the table. Small visual cues tell your brain that abundance is possible.
Change Your Commute.
If you drive the same gray highway every day, you're stuck in a loop. Take the long way. Drive through the neighborhood with the big trees or the quirky houses. Look at the gardens people have spent years tending. You are borrowing their hard work and aesthetic joy for five minutes. It counts.
Listen Differently.
Ditch the true crime podcasts for a day. Listen to a symphony. Listen to an ambient recording of a Parisian street cafe. Soundscapes are one of the fastest ways to transport your brain to a different "life."
The "Borrowing" Journal.
Forget a standard gratitude list. Instead, write down one thing you saw today that belonged to someone else or the world at large that you "borrowed" for a moment of peace.
- "Borrowed the scent of the neighbor’s jasmine."
- "Borrowed the laughter of those kids at the park."
- "Borrowed the majesty of the storm clouds over the mall."
Why This Matters Right Now
Honestly, the world feels heavy. We are bombarded with "unprecedented" events. If we only rely on our own internal strength, we’re going to snap. We have to be able to look outward.
To borrow great big beautiful life is an act of rebellion against cynicism. It’s saying that even if my personal life feels small or difficult right now, the world is still vast and full of wonder. And I have every right to participate in that wonder, even if I’m just visiting.
This isn't about ignoring reality. It’s about expanding your reality to include the good stuff that’s already happening.
Actionable Takeaways for a "Big Beautiful" Shift
- Schedule a "Beauty Break": Once a week, go somewhere solely because it is aesthetically pleasing or grand. A library, a botanical garden, or a historic hotel lobby. Spend 20 minutes there doing nothing but looking.
- Limit "Small Life" Inputs: Pay attention to how much time you spend on petty grievances or minor inconveniences. Every minute spent complaining about a slow app is a minute you aren't looking at the horizon.
- Share the Borrowed Joy: When you see something great, tell someone. "Look at how the light is hitting those buildings." By pointing it out, you reinforce the experience for yourself and offer a "loan" of that beauty to someone else.
- Practice Active Observation: Next time you’re outside, try to find five colors you didn't notice before. It sounds simple, but it forces your brain to engage with the "big" world instead of your "small" internal monologue.