AWE
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
— W.B. Yeats
Awe. Wonder. Transcendence. Those feelings are almost indescribable, but we all have felt them at some point in our lives. And when we do, they are often spectacular, sometimes life-changing experiences.
When we often think of awe, we think of the BIG experiences. Experiencing the birth of a child or grandchild, peering into the Grand Canyon, walking through a redwood forest, and attending a powerful religious or spiritual ceremony.
But awe – wonder – delight – gratitude – can actually be part of our daily experience if we have the courage to let it in.
What gives YOU a sense of awe? God? Nature?
- How about slowly walking the length of a quiet art museum gallery
- The close embrace of a dance partner on a warm summer night
- The sublime taste of the perfect bite in a meal made just for you
- The first smile of a baby or the soft nuzzle from your favorite pet
- The opening notes of your favorite song when you were a teenager
- The faded black and white photograph of your grandparents
- The final blaze of the setting sun before it disappears into the horizon
Yes, this is POWERFUL stuff!
MIA MARIOTTI, AMBASSADOR
But you may be asking: Why does it take courage to really feel awe? Well, a few things:
- Our experience in dozens of Scare Your Soul challenges reminds us that, to feel awe, we have to admit our smallness. We have to somehow remove ourselves from the leading role in our own ongoing life movie, and make room for something larger than ourselves.
- We stop seeing our role in the world through a lens of self-interest. We see it through a sense of shared humanity.
- To experience awe, we have to be present. We live in the moment, feeling it fully. We have to ditch our devices and immerse ourselves in what we are perceiving in that very second.
- To accept a feeling of awe means we are bravely accepting a real connection with others around the world. We don’t own God, nature, music, art, dance, or the setting sun. We share them with others.
Your SYS Awe Challenge is…
CREATE YOUR OWN AWE-INSPIRED EXPERIENCE
Your challenge is really slow down. Cultivate a sense of awe. Just for you.
Before you begin… We encourage you to print out this challenge’s worksheet so that you can write down your thoughts as you go.
Set yourself up for success
Find a block of time in your schedule when you can unplug. Then – and this is important – put your phone in a drawer.
Choose your own awe-place
Now, make your way to a place when you can really just “be.” A place that calls you toward contemplation. A place where you feel comfortable yet inspired.
Only you know where this place is. Maybe it’s in the forest. Maybe it’s in the stands of your favorite baseball team. Maybe it’s in the last pew in the church you attended when you were a kid, the corner of a local park, or on a long stretch of highway.
Experience it bravely and fully
Now, slowly – like you are savoring your favorite beverage – drink in EVERYTHING.
The air on your skin. The sounds in your ears. The beauty of the present moment. The reality that you – despite all odds against it – are alive, breathing, and are experiencing that moment.
DAWN RIVERS, AMBASSADOR
Take time and consider the following words (you may want to print them out and take them with you):
It is believed by many that humans (homo-sapiens) first appeared about 10,000 years ago. If every human generation since then represents an average span of 25 years, that means that you have about 400 sets of great-great-great-grandparents dating back to the beginning of human civilization.
For you to be where you are right now, those 400 generations of ancestors had to be so incredibly smart, brave and wily to outwit predators, avoid dangers in their natural environment, escape early death to disease. Somehow, over 10,000 years, your ancestors lived long enough to find mates, procreate, and have families of their own.
You are the result. Your appearance on this Earth is an incredible, auspicious thing.
And that is worthy of awe.
Remain in the moment.
A quick note: If you liked this challenge, the new Scare Your Soul book has an entire chapter on how to practice living a life of awe. It features inspiring stories, the science behind how awe enlivens us, more in-depth writing prompts, and lots of real-world challenges.
If you are interested in sharing your experience, e-mail us at tEAM@scareyoursoul.com
But the prime beneficiary of the challenge is YOU. What did you get out of this experience? What buttons did it push that was challenging? Did it spur you on to do another one?
Ready to take it up a notch?
If you are ready, we encourage you to do a week of Scaring Your Soul.
For the next seven days, “do one thing that scares you.” That means one thing every day where you intentionally push a comfort zone. Your act can be tiny. Baby steps. But at least once every day, take action.
-
- Call one person you are avoiding
- Do something that ramps up your sense of spirituality, or take 15 minutes to meditate
- Reconnect with an old friend you haven’t spoken to in ages
- Try a brand new physical practice, or move your body in a new and challenging way
- Eat vegan or plant-based for a day, or commit to being sober when you would normally drink
- Have an honest conversation with someone you care about
Whatever it is for YOU. But they key: DO IT.
Ready to take it up a notch?
If you are ready, we encourage you to do a week of Scaring Your Soul.
For the next seven days, “do one thing that scares you.” That means one thing every day where you intentionally push a comfort zone. Your act can be tiny. Baby steps. But at least once every day, take action.
-
- Call one person you are avoiding
- Do something that ramps up your sense of spirituality, or take 15 minutes to meditate
- Reconnect with an old friend you haven’t spoken to in ages
- Try a brand new physical practice, or move your body in a new and challenging way
- Eat vegan or plant-based for a day, or commit to being sober when you would normally drink
- Have an honest conversation with someone you care about
Whatever it is for YOU. But they key: DO IT.
Moving Forward - A Message From Scott Simon
Hello dear friend!
I want to offer my personal congratulations on starting your own Scare Your Soul journey. We all – no matter our background – have the human right to live the best life. One full of love, connection, joy. And, in my view, the key that unlocks that life is one word: courage.
I am so proud that Scare Your Soul offers free weekly challenges that will push you in all kinds of powerful ways. But – in reality – you don’t need our challenges to lead your boldest life. You just need to continue to tackle the small-but-brave acts that are meaningful to YOU.
Try this: In your mind, fast forward to one one year from today. What would your life look and be like if you chose to do one thing every day that scared you?
- What kind of new experiences will you have?
- What kind of real, vulnerable interactions will you have with loved ones?
- What ideas will you have that you will courageously share with others?
- What growth will you have in your work or communal life?
- What kind of role-modeling will you do for kids, grand-kids, or family members?
When we all adopt a Scare Your Soul attitude, we open doors to our lives. We often don’t know what will be on the other side. And that is delicious. To me, that is what life is all about.
So, starting TODAY, don’t let those petty, self-generated fears stop you. You have every right to an audacious, amazing life. The one you were destined to lead.
Best wishes on your journey ahead. Sending you lots of courage.
-Scott
PS: Send me any questions or comments any time at scott@scareyoursoul.com – I try my best to answer each and every one.
