AWE- Week 4

"We teach children how to measure and how to weigh. We fail to teach them how to revere, how to sense wonder and awe." 

-Harold S. Kushner is Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, Massachusetts, where he lived. His books include the huge bestseller When Bad Things Happen To Good People and When All You've Ever Wanted Isn't Enough.

According to a recent article in Time magazine on the subject of Awe and wonder, this appeared. “Awe doesn't just change how people feel about themselves; it changes how they relate to others. Researchers have found that the emotion often gives rise to what they call “self-transcendent” feelings, including compassion and gratitude. “We really prioritize the needs and feelings of other people,” says Virginia Sturm, a professor in the departments of neurology and psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California San Francisco, “because we feel kind of small and more connected to this larger universe.”

Awe can be found in small moments. During the day, pause and reflect on a conversation or experience that surprised you, perhaps one that made you smile. Simply remembering it can bring back that smile and the pleasant feeling. This practice can reduce loneliness and increase the release of feel-good hormones.

How can you invite awe into your daily routine, even on a walk? On my regular walks, I try to notice something new, something I may have passed many times but never truly seen. It may seem insignificant to someone else, but to me, it is a discovery. Look at your surroundings with fresh eyes, shift your perspective, and open your mind. It is also a practice in mindfulness.