How to Become a Bon Vivant

"Some people move through the world as if it were a buffet of delights-reveling in a glass of wine, lingering in front of a painting, closing their eyes while tasting crème brûlée, admiring a slow-burn sunset, disappearing into a perfect conversation, losing track of time over a beautifully prepared meal, or nuzzling into a cashmere sweater. These people have a name: bon vivants."

"Psychology spent its early years acting like pleasure was the flaky cousin of meaning. But contemporary research shows that the hedonic well-being experiences of pleasure, comfort, joy, and sensory delight are legitimate, measurable components of psychological health. Positive emotions broaden our perspective, improve creativity, increase resilience, and help us build resources over time. To become a bon vivant, treat pleasure not as a guilty indulgence but as a meaningful contributor to your overall well-being."

Pleasure, comfort, joy, and sensory delight are legitimate, measurable components of psychological health. Positive emotions broaden perspective, improve creativity, increase resilience, and help build resources over time. Savoring magnifies and stretches existing pleasures so everyday experiences yield greater satisfaction. Small, frequent luxuries often produce more happiness than rare extravagances by providing repeated moments of delight. Curiosity about sensory experiences and sharing enjoyment with others deepens taste, vitality, and social connection. Treating pleasure as an intentional practice supports sustained well-being rather than fleeting indulgence.

Read at Psychology Today