The slow satisfaction of making a picture come alive, bead by bead

In a commentary published as part of The Straits Times’ Finding Joy series, SMU Assistant Professor of Marketing Shilpa Madan shared how she found calm amid a turbulent year through diamond art – a meditative, hands-on activity that contrasts with her professional world. As a consumer psychologist, she linked the experience to research showing that joy deepens when shared, noting how the hobby became an unexpected way to bond with her son. She added that even brief moments of agency can help buffer stress and uncertainty, making the repetitive, mindful act of diamond art particularly restorative. Asst Prof Madan concluded that joy is not found only in grand escapes, but in the slow accumulation of small, everyday acts.