The importance of Dynamic Quality for the Creation of Happiness

About: the Value of Quality in Life

The concept of dynamic quality cannot be defined. It can only be understood intellectually through the use of analogy. This is why the Dynamic beauty of a piece of music can be recognized before a static analysis explaining why the music is beautiful can be constructed. Dynamic quality can be poetically described as the force of change in the universe; however when an aspect of Quality becomes repeated, it becomes static.

Robert Pirsig, the writer of the famous bestseller “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” defines ‘static quality’ patterns as everything which can be defined. Everything found in a dictionary, for instance, is a static quality pattern. Pirsig then divides static quality into inorganic, biological, social, and intellectual patterns, in ascending order of morality (based on evolutionary order). These static forms, if they have enough ‘high’ or ‘low’ quality, are given names and are interchanged with other “sentient beings”, building the base of knowledge for a culture.

Robert Pirsig and son

To give an example of this. Look at your favourite shop, why do you go there and not to another one? Is it because the quality of the products they sell or is there something else that is important but almost indefinable. I think the dynamic quality is about the joy you perceive in a particular shop, in addition to the actual product that you buy. Having a more or less personal relationship with the owners is more important.

How does happiness relate to this? Very simply, it is about the small things that have to do with Emotional and Social Intelligence. Are you invited to have an espresso or cappucino just to taste the quality of the machine or it more about sharing a moment?

Robert Pirsig wrote another book called “Lila: an Inquiry into Morals“. This semi-autobiographical story takes place as the author sails his boat down the Hudson River, even meeting Robert Redford, Phaedrus, the author’s alter ego is jarred out of his solitary routine by an encounter with Lila, a straightforward but troubled woman who is nearing a mental breakdown.

The most important thing to learn here is that creating happiness is all about small things. And they are quite easy to create every day. Just by recognizing what is beautiful and simple to achieve.

Recommendation: focus on quality with everything you do, also small things, and reflect upon it regularly.

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