Beyond the everyday demands, there exists a potent source of nourishment ready to be rediscovered. Allow me to guide you on the journey.
As summer’s energy ascends, I find myself yearning for a deeper intimacy with a sense that is more captivating than any other. This sense leads me to revel in the tranquility of calm as I embrace my source of nourishment: A Sense of Wonder.
What is this sense that transports us to a realm we refer to as wonder? Much like curiosity, our ability to wonder emerges when we carve out space for the unknown. This space is where we willingly set aside our attachments to what we allege to understand, allowing ourselves to release our expectations as we welcome the next moment.
However, contrary to subtle curiosity, wonder beckons for a more profound commitment. Simply opting to introduce my curiosity into a situation operates differently than choosing to infuse my wonder. A sense of wonder demands deeper engagement.
As I start to uncover, this commitment is linked to the frameworks we have (or lack) constructed for ourselves. It may not be necessary to discard what we have, but rather to become more discerning about which structures to utilize and when. My “Birthday Lembrancinhas” exemplifies how the rhythm and playful approach of forming new structures, inspired by wonder, is manifesting for me.
While our senses of taste, smell, sound, touch, and sight are closely interwoven with our thought processes and external environment, our ability to access the wonder of awe seems to transcend our thoughts and the physical world. The path of wonder leads us to a way of living that perpetually embraces the enigmatic nature of life’s unfolding.
Moreover, this embrace necessitates that we release structures (such as habits of haste and distraction) that divide us, while simultaneously forming structures (like A Year of Wonder) that bring us together.
With ‘allow-ness’ as its foundation, wonder acts as a bridge connecting us to the fundamental essence of our being. Far from being passive, the force of this discerning kind of allow-ness opens our eyes. It presents an embrace that enables us to view the world from a renewed perspective, dissolving our anxieties, frustrations, or the dreaded sentiment of “why bother.” Yet, permitting this nourishing embrace of wonder requires deliberate effort. It calls for action to transition away from the habits that keep us trapped.
Your June Challenge: Embrace Allow-ness
This month, let’s intentionally welcome more wonder into our lives. This isn’t a passive hope; it’s an active, mindful endeavor. Here’s your powerful three-step challenge to deepen connection and awe:
Step 1: Ignite Your Inner Awe
This week, dedicate intentional time for an experience that truly moves you. Perhaps it’s a yoga class where you consciously follow your instructor’s directions, experiencing your breath and movement in harmony, honoring the wonder of your body’s innate wisdom. Or maybe it’s simply gazing at the night sky, genuinely seeing the stars. The aim is to consciously draw yourself nearer to that feeling of awe.
Step 2: Weave Wonder into Daily Life
For the remaining six days of the week, maintain that door to awe wide open. This involves actively integrating moments of sensory pleasure and presence. Engage all your senses during a mindful walk in the woods—attentively listening to birds chirping, genuinely feeling the sun’s warmth on your skin, deeply inhaling the fragrance of a flower.
Step 3: Cultivate a Consistent Connection
Reinforce your dedication to eliminate distractions and heighten your capacity for wonder. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 for three consecutive weeks. Each iteration strengthens your ability to allow wonder to permeate and enrich your everyday life.
This Challenge serves as a warm-up for your ‘Year of Wonder’! A deeper sense of awe, presence, and joy awaits us beyond this month. So, in the spirit of allow-ness, I invite you to nurture this connection more intentionally as a style of living — in a spirit of playfulness and steady, gradual rhythm.
In celebration of my 55th birthday and a sentiment surrounding “Lembrancinhas,” I’m offering a special gift: Join me for A Year of Wonder.🌻