Can you believe we’re in September already?
Time flies on by, doesn’t it!
This week’s Mental Sunshine is a bit… nebulous.
It’s one of those things it’s hard to pin down – but once you get it, you understand.
This week we’re talking about awe.
I don’t mean that overused word, AWESOME
Rather, I mean that feeling of absolute wonderment.
The feeling you get when you’re able to see a planet in the night sky
Or the aurora borealis, if you’ve been lucky enough to see them.
Some people feel awe when visiting large cathedrals or ancient monuments.
Awe happens when we are faced with something vast – often something that challenges our understanding of the world.
Often something that gives you this brief glimpse of oh wow, I am a tiny human on an enormous planet, travelling around an even bigger sun, in an infinite galaxy…
perhaps that stain on my t shirt doesn’t matter so much after all…
When we feel awe, it shifts our focus away from everyday stress and anxiety.
It helps us to gain perspective on our problems – because in the grand scheme of things, that stain on our t shirt doesn’t matter, does it?
Awe can also help us to be more generous and empathic.
A large part of feeling awe is allowing ourselves to do so.
It’s easy to get a bit jaded in life, to look up at the stars, shrug and move on.
This week, why not make a point of stopping, looking and appreciating?
It doesn’t have to be the stars.
It could be the beauty of nature.
You could visit your local cathedral and really pay attention (perhaps for the first time) to all of the intricate stone carvings or paintings.
If you’re finding it hard, try to see things through the eyes of a four year old.
Imagine you’re explaining it to them.
Like with most things, the more you practise feeling awe, the easier it becomes.
Let me know how you get on!