“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” – John Muir
I was backing out of the driveway the other night. Five-year-old Mr. D was in the back seat and we were on our way to pick up 9-year-old Miss O from a birthday party.
Mr. D exclaimed, “Mama, I saw the first star!”
Sure enough, out the back window was one really bright star. Mr. D’s excitement brought to mind a podcast series I’ve been listening to with Berkley professor Dacher Keltner on the 10 Percent Happier podcast.
Keltner is known for his courses on happiness. But his most recent book is about awe. He describes awe as part of the self-transcendent states, the emotions that help widen our perspective from inward and worried to the bigger picture. He writes:
“Awe is the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand. Why would I recommend that you find happiness in an emotion that is so fleeting and evanescent? A feeling so elusive that it resists simple description? That requires the unexpected, and moves us toward mystery and the unknown rather than what is certain and easy?
Because we can find awe anywhere.”
– Dacher Keltner in Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life
I’m lucky to live with a couple of awe monsters. They experience it and share it on a regular basis.
But in case no awe monsters are handy, Dacher Keltner has many other suggestions. Here are some that draw from nature: look up at the sky, listen to bird song, be mindful of something that strikes you and take a picture of it.
(featured photo is Miss O (age 6) and Mr. D (age 2) looking at a sunrise)
Surprised By Joy 