Cultivating Awe. See what happens when you tap into a new aspect of a familiar landscape.
The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” ― W.B. Yeats
The New Science of Everyday Wonder: How Cultivating Awe Can Transform Your Life
“We are so busy managing our lives,” writes the Irish poet and author John o’Donohue, that “we forget this great mystery we are involved in.”
In today’s post, we’ll explore the new Science of everyday wonder, and how cultivating awe will transform your Life.
Keep on reading because this post will shed some light with insights that will empower you to see things differently.
Please enjoy Cultivating Awe!
The New Science of Everyday Wonder: How Cultivating Awe Can Transform Your Life
With technologies getting the upper hand, it’s so easy nowadays to feel self-critical, stressed out, and depressed. How you overcome these temptations will help put you in a better headspace.
According to the new science of everyday wonder, these thought patterns are not always true. Since they often get in the way of us experiencing awe-inspiring moments.
You see, stress narrows the mind.
It is the opposite of experiencing awe-inspiring moments. isn’t it?
Whereas the new science of everyday wonder; expands your capacity to rejoice; in common humanity, and the natural world.
Cultivating awe is the feeling of being struck by these vast mysteries and wanting to explore them.
As F. Scott Fitzgerald reminds us, “Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.”
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Fish In the Sea, You Know How I Feel.
In his 2005 commencement speech, American novelist and short story writer, David Foster Wallace told―his now-infamous story about the two young fish, to the graduating class at Kenyon College.
The story begins with these two young fish swimming along. Then came an older fish approaching from the other end. He nodded to them. Then says “Morning, boys. How’s the water?”
The two young fish swim on for a bit.
Then one of them looks over at the other and goes: “What the hell is water?”
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Entrepreneur Derek Sivers also reminds us that, “Fish don’t know they’re in water.
And I’ll assume you’ve guessed why. Besides, it’s also how he feels about cultures.
He writes “We’re surrounded by it that it’s impossible to see.”
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If this isn’t nice, what is?
Our next story is about a well-known American writer and humorist, named Kurt Vonnegut.
Vonnegut was also known for his controversial speeches that he’d give to graduating students, along with his wits, wisdom, and uplifting insights on cultivating awe
One story in particular came to mind, is that of his beloved uncle, Alex.
See, uncle Alex was a man of concerned, warmhearted and tender.
Vonnegut points out that “One of the things that his uncle would find strange and unpleasant about human beings was that they so rarely noticed it when they were happy.
Him and his uncle could be drinking lemonade in the summertime, and Uncle Alex would interrupt the conversation to say, ‘If this isn’t nice, what is?‘
In her book, Wouldn’t Take Nothing For My Journey Now, American memoirist and poet Dr. Maya Angelou also emphasizes the idea that “Whining is not only graceless, but can be dangerous.
She adds, “It can alert a brute that a victim is in the neighborhood.”
Essentially we don’t realize how much waste is in it, how distracted and inefficient it makes us.
Sure, civilization will wear you down. Sexism, racism, ideology, the government, or what have you―all of these boxes are there to limit you, to wear you down. But against all these odds,―find awe.
Go wander somewhere.
Put all concerns on pause, and think about the vastness, the mysteries of the world around you. Listen intently to the rain. Nature. Be fully present.
Become aware of a new aspect of a familiar landscape. View it from a different perspective. Who knows, you might be in for a good surprise.
Closing thoughts
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Have you experienced any “awe-inspiring moment” that you’d like to share with us? Let us know in the comment below.
And as always, thank you for reading.
God bless you and stay safe out there.
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