Artwork by 11-year-old A.M.
We’ve been told that “good taste” is completely subjective but that’s not true. However, good taste varies widely so there’s no need to fear that having good taste is too limiting or exclusionary.
Here we’re defining “good” in a way that is wholesome, beneficial to healthy parties, and just. Thus this guide is going to differ from others because good taste is interpreted and defined in all kinds of ways.
When we’re born, we are wild and uncivilized. We rely on our parents and environment to guide our behavior as we grow. In reality, there is right and wrong, good and bad, beautiful and ugly, and true and untrue. We’re taught how to discern these differences and what criteria to apply. In today’s world, much is acceptable which wasn’t always and more so, there has been a movement to invert reality. Now, what is up is down and vice versa. That’s why for some, learning how to have good taste may be helpful or necessary.
We’ve been subjected to decades of confusion on the matter. We’ve been told anything goes. If you’ve ever used a quality tool after being frustrated while using a cheap one, you understand that not just anything goes, at all.
How to Have Good Taste
Clothing, art, music, architecture, food–there’s a wide range of variability and styles, but despite this, they can all have something in common if they’re in good taste:
- Quality
- Skillful
- Wrought or derived from virtuous behavior
- Not created to destroy or subvert truth
- In support of health and wellness
“Good taste” supports what is true, good, and beautiful and we stand to benefit from remembering that if it doesn’t support these three things, perhaps it isn’t in good taste.
Train Yourself to Recognize Good Quality
You can teach yourself how to spot quality in an instant. It simply takes practice. Ask yourself if something was created to endure? Does it inspire or uplift? Is it actually beautiful? Was it made for a noble purpose? Does it go against what is true? If it’s a tool, does it work properly?
Have you ever seen a beautiful item pertaining to an aesthetic you do not particularly like? Wasn’t it easy to recognize its beauty and quality, nevertheless? Quality shines regardless if it is in your preferred style or not.
How to Cultivate Good Taste
- Pick your favorite breakfast and dissect it. Is it healthy? Is it the best quality you can afford? Do you serve it in a way that has some aesthetic appeal? Do you take the time to enjoy each bite?
If you said “no” to any of the above questions, consider asking yourself why you don’t eat a better quality breakfast. Try upgrading this meal with a few adjustments and see if that makes any difference. Look at quality foods from all over the world. They have certain elements in common, such as freshness and reasonable serving sizes. The key is to incorporate those basic elements of quality and goodness as much as you can.
- Analyze your wardrobe. Is it the best quality you can get? Does your clothing and shoes fit properly? Is it practical and in harmony with your lifestyle? Does it feel like you wear a style that is authentic to you? Do you care for your clothes and shoes? Do your clothing choices say something positive or negative about you? Can people read you accurately based on the way you dress or are you misleading them? Can your outfits be worn around children?
Try refining your wardrobe based on how you answer these questions. Some of us have very little funds for this area, but we can still do the best with what we have. It is likely better to have 10 outfits that speak highly of you and suit your life and personality versus having nearly unlimited options of mediocre outfits that do not.
- Take a close look at your media consumption. What does it say about you? What could someone say to describe you if all they had to go on was the books, news, articles, movies, tv shows, and music you consume?
People may live one way and secretly listen to a shocking music style. Most wouldn’t bat an eye. For your own purposes, ask yourself if your music choices provide you with positive value. Consider the messages you listen to and if those messages are in line with your values in life. Would you be ashamed if your child or grandparent listened to it?
We’re highly influenced by media choices and filtering these accordingly is one way to protect our minds from toxic elements and low quality information.
When you support high quality media sources, you help sustain and spread that which you consider worthy and good. It’s one thing to say we agree with something and another to actively support it.
- Tools and lifestyle products. From hammers to soap, we all use many products. Paying attention to the material and make of the products we buy and the consequences of using them can make for a wise investment into your health, safety, and keep you from acquiring extra and unnecessary purchases.
Pay attention to the details of what you’re about to purchase. Try to avoid cheaply made products if you need something to last. Support products made by companies or local community members you respect. Go for quality as much as you can. Be strict with your choices so that you don’t waste money or compromise on value.
“In good taste” used to be said often to indicate that something was reasonable, positive, healthy, and, and broadly appealing to one’s culture or society. We’ve replaced this with a lack of discrimination and a blind acceptance of everything. Within standards of good taste, we still have an immense selection to choose from. Don’t be afraid to apply strict quality standards and cultivate your own personal brand of inspiring, beautiful, meaningful, healthy, and purposeful good taste.
A young lady who can pick out that which is in good taste, is more capable of choosing a quality husband. We’ll address that crucial topic in another post.