Most of us have lost the wide-eyed wonder we possessed as small children. That appreciation for all creation and its diversity buried in the hubbub of our lives. We have allowed the responsibilities and busyness of being an adult to hijack our mind to believe that possessing a sense of awe is immature. Wonder, though, is vital to developing our intuitive abilities and connecting to The Highest Power.

Jesus preached that we should come to The Divine like children. In Matthew 18:3, it says,  “Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (NIV) To me, this is a commandment to practice wonder and foster a richer love for the mysteries of God.

Why do most adults lack wonder?
We live in a rushed world where multi-tasking is the norm. Electronics constantly compete for our attention. Most of us have grown cynical, been hurt emotionally or just want to get through the day. Some of us navigate life in survival mode. It seems frivolous to stop the grind, unplug from our technological society and tune in to the natural world, but it’s necessary for our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Reclaim your child-like joy.
The easiest way to elevate your state of mind is to live in the present. Focus on the natural world by venturing into your yard, a park or the backcountry. Turn off your cell phone. Clear your mind by engaging your senses and communing with creation.

  • Listen for the softest of noises.
  • Look for the unexpected: gaze into the shadows, detect movement, scan for shapes that are out of place—you never know what you will discover.
  • Inhale deeply—What do you smell?
  • Place your hand against the bark on a tree, rub the soil between your fingers or kick off your shoes and walk barefoot. Feel the breeze on your cheek.

By focusing on creation, we recognize we are connected to all life. This leads us to ponder the vastness of The Most Divine.

Once we find this joy, let’s amplify it through play. Laugh. Sing. Dance. Be silly. (That’s me in the photo above, doing my best “Sound of Music” pose after hiking up this mountain on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.) Even better if you can do this with a small child. Learn joy from your youngest family members, as children have perfected it.

All of this raises our spiritual awareness and our energetic vibration.

How rediscovering wonder benefits us.
Wonderment leads to an appreciation of something grander than ourselves and we begin to recognize the complexity of creation.

Wonder:

  • Opens our eyes to the seemingly small happenings that are easy to miss;
  • Increases our contentment and fosters gratitude;
  • Strengthens our bond to the Most Divine;
  • Creates a pathway to more easily commune with the Great I Am; and
  • Raises our personal energetic vibration, increasing our intuitive abilities.

Joy, the emotion most closely associated with awe, is the third highest vibrating emotion (at 540 MHz according to Dr. David R. Hawkins, MD, PhD) and is listed just after enlightenment and peace. Living in joy is associated with serenity and a feeling of completeness, according to Hawkins.

This outlook enables us to forge a productive connection with all of God’s creation. One that doesn’t destroy, but uplifts. We grow humbled when we realize we aren’t the most important aspect of life on Earth, but that we are part of the whole: all creation has a purpose and contributes to our health as a species.

We are connected. Humanity’s strengths—our intellect, character and ability to create solutions—are meant to preserve the wholeness and diversity found on our planet. Like a doting big brother, we are meant to protect the Earth and everything in it, not dominate or abuse it.

So, take time to watch clouds float through a bright blue sky. Witness a daisy dance in the breeze. Or lose your thoughts as you meander beside a gurgling stream. Use this time to get out of your mind and be aware of your surroundings.

Take your discoveries inward. Silently thank The Universe for another day to experience all that we are given.