Awe and the Power of Ordinary Magic

Last month I took a trip to Tanzania to fulfill a dream of going on Safari in the Serengeti. When I was asked about the best part of the trip, I continued to come back to being in a perpetual state of awe and wonder on the trip. Having a sustained experience of awe was a gift.

According to the Greater Good Science Center, “Awe is the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world, like looking up at millions of stars in the night sky or marveling at the birth of a child. When people feel awe, they may use other words to describe the experience, such as wonder, amazement, surprise, or transcendence.”[i]

Today researchers are uncovering the benefits of Awe including lower levels of cortisol the stress hormone, increasing feelings of happiness and life satisfaction, increased compassion and empathy indicating that awe diminishes self-focus and increases prosocial behaviors, such as generosity and compassion. Enhanced cognitive functioning by fostering curiosity and encouraging exploration of new ideas. Boosted immune system: Some studies suggest that positive emotions, including those induced by awe, can strengthen the immune system. Reduced materialism: decreasing focus on materialistic values and increased appreciation for intrinsic values such as relationships and personal growth. Enhanced mindfulness and presence which can reduce rumination and anxiety and awe often arises from experiences that connect us to something larger than ourselves, whether it's nature, art, or a spiritual experience. This sense of connection can enhance feelings of social support and reduce feelings of loneliness.

When I was in Tanzania, I experienced this when I saw the sunset and sunrise, the pride of lions, the eagle in the tree, the giraffes in the mist, the hundreds of weaver nests in the trees, a bush completely ensconced in webs, and so much more! But let’s face it, we can’t always take a trip across the earth to experience awe, and we don’t have to.

I think most of us know the feeling of awe, when we experience a sense of vastness, wonder, surprise, or transcendence. When it happens, we are completely present with the experience, perhaps in that moment we even lose track of time and space. It doesn’t necessarily happen every day and it often happens unexpectedly. So how can we connect to this feelings more regularly, in our everyday lives?

Through “Ordinary Magic.”

Chogyam Trungpa states, "The idea of 'ordinary magic' is that we can appreciate the ordinary things in our life. They contain a kind of magic. When we begin to see things this way, everything becomes extraordinary."[ii] He states, "In the practice of ordinary magic, there is a sense of discovering the extraordinary in the ordinary, the sacred in the mundane. It is about recognizing the inherent richness and potential in every moment." [iii]

This is possible right here, right now. If we can be present with our experience, appreciate the joy, the pain, the beauty, the boredom, and the fact that we CAN experience all these riches, our experience becomes magical. If you could never brush your teeth again, how might you approach your toothbrush and the wonder of leaving your mouth feeling clean and fresh? If you could never have your favorite coffee drink again, how might you savor the taste and feeling of holding your beverage in your hands in a different way? When you press a button on a remote control and the television suddenly turns on providing you endless entertainment, do you pause to appreciate this wonder?

How would your day-to-day experience change if you could see the magic in any moment? Appreciate the gift of the mundane? Be present with the extraordinariness of the ordinary? How might your mindset shift by paying attention to ordinary magic?

Perhaps choose one thing, a daily ritual, a basic task, like unlocking your door, pouring a glass of water, cutting a vegetable, or taking out the trash. What happens when you slow down, stay present with the moment, appreciate, and marvel at all that is interconnected with this one small thing that allows you to engage with it in this moment. Does your experience and relationship to this task shift? This has been my practice since returning home.

Would you like to join me in this practice? Give it a try!