Have you ever watched a sunset in awe or seen a rainbow cast its magnificent colors across the sky after a storm? What about lying on your back and gazing upon the glittered night sky in wonderment of how vast and amazing this universe is and where does it go and where did it begin? When is the last time you felt that sense of curiosity? Being a person of wonder and awe of the mysteries and beauty that is life, is a greater way to tap into a more enriching and meaningful life. Having that keen sense of curiosity to not just understand, but enjoy all of the gifts life has to offer connects us to our creativity and our higher purpose.
Remember when you were a child and everything was shiny and new. There is a craving within every child to experience and learn everything. Life is full of wonder, especially at a very young age. Just watch a child for a day, especially a two year old. Oooh, what is that new shiny thing? I must touch it, shake it or bang it to make noise with it, look intently at it, smell it or maybe put it up my nose and then I will put it in my mouth and taste it. As a child, anything we can get our hands on… we see it and have to inspect it immediately using all five senses to fully experience and understand it.
Now of course, I am not saying you should shove a crayon up your nose to learn about it. But have you ever wondered how they are created or how to use it to create something beautiful? Remember all of the questions we had as a child… why is the sky blue? Where do babies come from? What are clouds made of? This progressed into our teens when we asked the more abstract questions like: Who am I? What is the point of life? What is out there in the universe? And this sense of wonderment continued into college, but what happened to that wonderment once we became an adult?
Imagination is another attribute children possess that feeds into the wonderment. My son wouldn’t just play with his toy cars; he created a whole world where he fully embraced his imagination using paper, cardboard and crayons. In this world were stick figure people with names and personalities, along with roads, trees, houses, ponds, animals and stories to go with it all. It was amazing to watch his creations come to life. When I was a child, I used to find a way to make believe with just about anything. Making believe is not to discredit reality, but to open our senses to creative possibilities. These creative possibilities can feed our sense of wonder.
Now of course, I am not saying you should shove a crayon up your nose to learn about it. But have you ever wondered how they are created or how to use it to create something beautiful? Remember all of the questions we had as a child… why is the sky blue? Where do babies come from? What are clouds made of? This progressed into our teens when we asked the more abstract questions like: Who am I? What is the point of life? What is out there in the universe? And this sense of wonderment continued into college, but what happened to that wonderment once we became an adult?
Imagination is another attribute children possess that feeds into the wonderment. My son wouldn’t just play with his toy cars; he created a whole world where he fully embraced his imagination using paper, cardboard and crayons. In this world were stick figure people with names and personalities, along with roads, trees, houses, ponds, animals and stories to go with it all. It was amazing to watch his creations come to life. When I was a child, I used to find a way to make believe with just about anything. Making believe is not to discredit reality, but to open our senses to creative possibilities. These creative possibilities can feed our sense of wonder.
1. Be Childlike
Learn with enthusiasm and creativity
Learn with enthusiasm and creativity
2. Take time to contemplate beauty *
*It is our soul’s appreciation for what is precious and inspiring.
*It is our soul’s appreciation for what is precious and inspiring.
Whether in a snowflake, a sunset, a rainbow, a waterfall, flowers, a majestic mountain, a piece of literature, art, a song or whatever you find beautiful, take the time to appreciate and experience these things which fill you with awe. That feeling of awe and amazement, where it fills you with joy, warmth and a tingling sensation that makes you feel a part of something amazing nurtures our souls.
In today’s society of the rat race, we often miss opportunities to relish in the truest and simplest joys of life. Feed your soul and take a moment for yourself to sit quietly with your thoughts and open yourself to the beauty that is all around.
One of my favorite ways to embrace and contemplate beauty is to find beauty in everything. Sometimes this is challenging, but that is the BEAUTY of it! I love watching nature unfold, untouched in its natural amazing brilliance. I enjoy watching people interact, and finding the beauty in each person that passes by.
When I contemplate beauty it isn’t only about how I can get or receive it, it is also in how I can give or express it. I love smiling at strangers. It is unimportant to me if they return the smile. A smile is one of the easiest ways to spread beauty to others. Whether it’s planting flowers, painting a picture, writing a poem, smiling at people…Ask yourself: How can I add beauty to the world around me?
In today’s society of the rat race, we often miss opportunities to relish in the truest and simplest joys of life. Feed your soul and take a moment for yourself to sit quietly with your thoughts and open yourself to the beauty that is all around.
One of my favorite ways to embrace and contemplate beauty is to find beauty in everything. Sometimes this is challenging, but that is the BEAUTY of it! I love watching nature unfold, untouched in its natural amazing brilliance. I enjoy watching people interact, and finding the beauty in each person that passes by.
When I contemplate beauty it isn’t only about how I can get or receive it, it is also in how I can give or express it. I love smiling at strangers. It is unimportant to me if they return the smile. A smile is one of the easiest ways to spread beauty to others. Whether it’s planting flowers, painting a picture, writing a poem, smiling at people…Ask yourself: How can I add beauty to the world around me?
3. Be inspired by life’s mysteries*
Wonder is being open to the beauty and mysteries of life.*
I touched on this a bit in being childlike. Let’s take it further. I am a true lover of knowledge and experiences. I have found the more I know, the less I know and that really fuels me to keep digging and learning more. I crave to learn and understand as much as I can. My goal is not to master anything in particular, but to live in a way that explores all of life’s mysteries. I am okay if I never figure it out, for me it is the journey that it takes me on. Become an explorer of LIFE! Ask yourself the BIG questions and what they mean to you. Read a book on a subject you have interest in, but never learned about. Dare to be adventurous and expose yourself to new experiences. Life isn’t a puzzle to solve, it is a journey to explore full of enriching experiences. Be inquisitive and discover life’s gifts. Look out into the night sky and imagine what is out there beyond our galaxy. Again, tap into your imagination and have fun with it!
4. Be present in the moment*
*When we look at the grandeur of nature, fully present to the moment, it can move us deeply.
I am sure you have heard the saying “Life is a gift, Be PRESENT!” For me this saying is, in many ways, my mantra. I have experienced many bouts of depression, usually due from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The major life rope that pulls me out is changing my mind set to the PRESENT. When I am present I become more grateful for the gifts of life all around me. Instead of being busy living in my head with worry, I wake up to an awareness of my physical presence to be in the here and now. That is where life is happening! Being present grants me the opportunity for more enriching life experiences. When I am present, I am open to the true existence of my soul. Just think of a time you were walking through a park, did you stop to “smell the roses” or were you in your head, not noticing them at all? This leads us into the next opportunity of WONDER.
5. Be mindful of signs and wonders*
*When we live reflectively, we delight in the signs and wonders that appear in our lives.
How many beautiful and wondrous things have you missed while “sleep-walking” through life? Do you open yourself to the wonders around you? What is it to be mindful anyway? Mindfulness is simply being present with awareness. Life is full of wonders and signs, but if we’re not present, we may miss them. Remember to be childlike and tap into your curiosity. Be the guy/gal that challenges the robotic life. Be the one that embraces wonder and seizes the opportunity for moments of wonderment. Carpe Diem!
Wonders and Signs aren’t always external. Have you ever had a gut feeling or a strong stirring within you that compels you to follow it? How many times have you ignored it or paid no mind to it, only to find out later it was the best course of action. It’s okay, mistakes are part of life, it’s human; the important thing is, did you learn from them? I second guess myself all of the time, but often find the first gut instinct is or was the best approach. Be sure to take time to reflect and be mindful of yourself, your values, your beauty and the perfect enigmatic wonders of being human!
6. Appreciate life’s synchronicities*
*We are alert to synchronicities that point us toward a decision or give us deeper insight into the truth.
There have been a multitude of times in my life where I felt I had hit a wall, with no options or direction. But every time, without fail, the doors open for me. Instead of giving up hope – look for the signs, the open doors, the opportunities. Life is full of synchronicities when we pay attention.
Having awareness, and understanding that these synchronicities exist helps us remain optimistic – that each moment in life directly affects our path. One thing leads to another. Failure is disappointing, but an obvious opportunity and blessing if losing your job leads to you finding a better one. Love lost is heartbreaking, but a stepping-stone if it leads to you finding the person of your dreams.
Here, wonder may exist in its truest form, because everyone wonders about what is possible, and synchronicity allows for endless possibility.
Wonder is being open to the beauty and mysteries of life.*
I touched on this a bit in being childlike. Let’s take it further. I am a true lover of knowledge and experiences. I have found the more I know, the less I know and that really fuels me to keep digging and learning more. I crave to learn and understand as much as I can. My goal is not to master anything in particular, but to live in a way that explores all of life’s mysteries. I am okay if I never figure it out, for me it is the journey that it takes me on. Become an explorer of LIFE! Ask yourself the BIG questions and what they mean to you. Read a book on a subject you have interest in, but never learned about. Dare to be adventurous and expose yourself to new experiences. Life isn’t a puzzle to solve, it is a journey to explore full of enriching experiences. Be inquisitive and discover life’s gifts. Look out into the night sky and imagine what is out there beyond our galaxy. Again, tap into your imagination and have fun with it!
4. Be present in the moment*
*When we look at the grandeur of nature, fully present to the moment, it can move us deeply.
I am sure you have heard the saying “Life is a gift, Be PRESENT!” For me this saying is, in many ways, my mantra. I have experienced many bouts of depression, usually due from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. The major life rope that pulls me out is changing my mind set to the PRESENT. When I am present I become more grateful for the gifts of life all around me. Instead of being busy living in my head with worry, I wake up to an awareness of my physical presence to be in the here and now. That is where life is happening! Being present grants me the opportunity for more enriching life experiences. When I am present, I am open to the true existence of my soul. Just think of a time you were walking through a park, did you stop to “smell the roses” or were you in your head, not noticing them at all? This leads us into the next opportunity of WONDER.
5. Be mindful of signs and wonders*
*When we live reflectively, we delight in the signs and wonders that appear in our lives.
How many beautiful and wondrous things have you missed while “sleep-walking” through life? Do you open yourself to the wonders around you? What is it to be mindful anyway? Mindfulness is simply being present with awareness. Life is full of wonders and signs, but if we’re not present, we may miss them. Remember to be childlike and tap into your curiosity. Be the guy/gal that challenges the robotic life. Be the one that embraces wonder and seizes the opportunity for moments of wonderment. Carpe Diem!
Wonders and Signs aren’t always external. Have you ever had a gut feeling or a strong stirring within you that compels you to follow it? How many times have you ignored it or paid no mind to it, only to find out later it was the best course of action. It’s okay, mistakes are part of life, it’s human; the important thing is, did you learn from them? I second guess myself all of the time, but often find the first gut instinct is or was the best approach. Be sure to take time to reflect and be mindful of yourself, your values, your beauty and the perfect enigmatic wonders of being human!
6. Appreciate life’s synchronicities*
*We are alert to synchronicities that point us toward a decision or give us deeper insight into the truth.
There have been a multitude of times in my life where I felt I had hit a wall, with no options or direction. But every time, without fail, the doors open for me. Instead of giving up hope – look for the signs, the open doors, the opportunities. Life is full of synchronicities when we pay attention.
Having awareness, and understanding that these synchronicities exist helps us remain optimistic – that each moment in life directly affects our path. One thing leads to another. Failure is disappointing, but an obvious opportunity and blessing if losing your job leads to you finding a better one. Love lost is heartbreaking, but a stepping-stone if it leads to you finding the person of your dreams.
Here, wonder may exist in its truest form, because everyone wonders about what is possible, and synchronicity allows for endless possibility.
7. Believe that your life is meaningful*
* Wonder makes our lives simply wonderful.
* Wonder makes our lives simply wonderful.
Imagine a day full of running errands, driving around in congested traffic full of angry drivers, working at a job that is draining and unfulfilling, only to come home to a chaotic mess to clean and a meal to cook for the hungry horde, followed by cleaning up the dinner aftermath, only to go to bed and start the same routine over again the next day. Sounds mundane, uninspiring and miserable, doesn’t it? Imagine instead a day full of being helpful to those you love by running errands, driving your car that affords you the freedom from having to walk long distances or wait on buses with several stops, offering your talents and skills to be of service and get paid for it, too! Only to come home to care for your loving family and when you lay your head down that night, you reflect on all of the things you’re grateful for and amazed that you get to add meaning to your life as well as others.
Find the gifts in life and practice gratitude. Perspective goes a long way! Your life is meaningful, no matter where you are or what you are doing. The wonder of you is amazing! There is no one like you; you are a unique and beautiful soul. Embrace your life and the wonderful gift of being a significant, meaningful soul among the great big wondrous and mysterious universe around you!
I am thankful for the gift of wonder. It amazes me.*
References:
* The Virtues Project™ Reflection Cards: Virtues Project International
Find the gifts in life and practice gratitude. Perspective goes a long way! Your life is meaningful, no matter where you are or what you are doing. The wonder of you is amazing! There is no one like you; you are a unique and beautiful soul. Embrace your life and the wonderful gift of being a significant, meaningful soul among the great big wondrous and mysterious universe around you!
I am thankful for the gift of wonder. It amazes me.*
References:
* The Virtues Project™ Reflection Cards: Virtues Project International
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