avatarK. Barrett

Summary

The website content discusses the importance of planning for moments of awe to enhance life satisfaction and well-being.

Abstract

The article "For Awe — Challenge 2" emphasizes the significance of intentionally seeking out experiences that inspire awe. It suggests that while awe can be spontaneous, individuals can also plan activities that are likely to evoke this emotion. The benefits of anticipation are highlighted, with research indicating that the joy of awaiting an event can be as rewarding as the event itself. The article encourages readers to reflect on personal experiences of awe, plan new awe-inspiring activities, and share their experiences with the community. It provides examples of awe-inducing experiences, such as witnessing natural phenomena, enjoying artistic talents, and reading books by awe-inspiring authors. The concept of "joyful awaiting" is introduced as a way to enhance the overall experience of anticipation and satisfaction.

Opinions

  • The author, K. Barrett, believes that planning for awe can increase our experiences of it, suggesting that we can familiarize ourselves with what inspires our feelings of awe and intentionally seek out these experiences.
  • Andy Tix, PhD, is quoted stating that travel, nature, art museums, musical concerts, and religious services are good opportunities for awe, particularly because they expose us to stimuli that challenge our preconceptions.
  • The article references the concept of "Blue Mind," which posits that water in its various forms can have a significant positive impact on our well-being.
  • John O’Leary’s idea of "joyful awaiting" is presented as a powerful tool for enhancing the enjoyment of future events, with the anticipation itself being a source of delight and satisfaction.
  • The author expresses a personal connection to water as a source of awe and suggests that others can find awe in sunsets, sunrises, flowers, natural wonders, and exceptional human talents.
  • The article encourages readers to actively plan for awe, suggesting that even the act of pre-ordering books can be an awe-inspiring activity that contributes to personal well-being.
  • It is suggested that sharing experiences of awe with others can contribute to collective well-being and that writing about these experiences can intensify them.
  • The author provides a call to action for readers to participate in the "For Awe" challenges and to consider becoming contributors to the publication by sharing their own experiences of awe.

For Awe — Challenge 2

Planned Awe

Photo/Image, K.Barrett, author

The knowledgeable person lives with a question mark, and the man of awe and wonder lives with an exclamation mark. — Osho

The Challenge

Let's add awe and an exclamation mark to our adventures!

Plan more moments of awe. The anticipation adds to the satisfaction.

For Awe’s Challenge 2: Planned Awe

Why Plan More Moments of Awe?

The benefits of anticipation increase our experiences of awe. Yes, awe is something that grabs us and takes over our senses in the moment, often unexpectedly and out of our control. But, we can become familiar with what types of things inspire our feelings of awe. Then, with some planning, we can bring ourselves to the stage more often to intentionally enjoy the show.

Art museums, musical concerts, religious services, and nature all provide good opportunities for awe. Travel, in particular, may provoke awe at times because of the potential to be exposed to stimuli that don’t fit preconceptions. For this reason, my family and I yearly take an “awecation” to somewhere that has a component of vastness. People who wanted to stay closer to home could explore a new location while camping at a nearby park. One key to all of this is selecting locations and activities that might evoke awe. — Andy Tix, PhD

Water is a major source of awe for me. Any form will do—lakes, oceans, rivers, or streams. It turns out the science of Blue Mind applies widely to our well-being.

You can try sunsets, sunrises, flowers, natural wonders of the world, or awemazing talent in athletics, dance, art, music, or poetry.

What takes your breath away? What makes you wonder? What makes you feel like a small speck in this huge incomprehensible universe? What type of talent knocks your socks off? Perhaps, a musical or a poetry reading? Maybe a new, or even a familiar, nature trail? The options are endless. Plan something great!

Joyful Awaiting

Now, let the joyful awaiting begin. I first heard the term joyful awaiting in John O’Leary’s book, In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning and Joy. John shares a story about his son asking if they could make a calendar countdown to his next birthday.

His birthday is more than eleven months away, and this kid wants to get ready for it?

My friend, this is the power of joyful awaiting. Children intrinsically know how sweet is its to thorugoughly anticipate something.

The delight tht emanates from joyful awaiting is a beautiful part of life. In fact, research shows we get more enjoyment out of something after we’ve had time to anticipate it. Anticipation, it turns out, is one of the things that makes life so rewarding. — John O’Leary

Plan and Share

Reflect on the moments when you have experienced awe. Think about what new activities could be your next awe-inducing experiences. Plan some awe. Enjoy the anticipation. (Make a calendar to mark down the days if you want!) Then, experience the intensified feelings of awe.

Capturing the details of our moments of awe in writing and reading about awemazing things can increase our experiences and our life satisfaction. Don’t forget to come back and share your moments of awe with us…contribute to our collective well-being.

What awe experiences are you planning?

Thanks for reading and I hope everyone will participate in this challenge and experience higher levels of satisfaction in their lives because of it.

Share your plans any time, For Awe challenges are always open! Check out Challenge 1 if you missed it!

Last Tip for planning awe: Not all of our plans for awe have to be super active adventures. Here are a few awe-inspiring authors, biographies of awemazing talent, and nature titles I will pre-order from this list: Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022. Waiting for these new books to arrive and spending a weekend wrapped in a blanket reading is sure to do the trick — a healthy dose of awe, right in the comfort of my own home. See if any of these new releases sound like an awe-promising plan for you.

Lit Hub’s Most Anticipated Books of 2022 — Image —Author’s Top 4

If you are not yet a writer at For Awe, learn how to join us and check out our simple guidelines here:

For More: About My Writing Journey — Awe Store — Vantage Points for Awe

For Awe Link Tree

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