Our Sense of Wonder? What Happens to It? Day 6 of 30

Many fail to grasp what’s right in the palm of their hand.” – Heraclitus

You remember what it was like as child? Being awestruck by most everything that we came in contact with during our formative years. Things like everyday events like the colors of the leaves changing in the fall. Flying a kite for the first time at the moment it takes flight under the power of the wind. All those sensations that assail us is nothing but miraculous to us during year three of our childhood.

Then we get old. We get busy. We forget. We trade up those great sensations for the less spectacular ones we find amongst social media channels. I️ find more and more my sense of wonder getting drummed out of me. I️ shouldn’t feel like that the first day of a new week, but I️ do. I️ had so much on my plate today, was poor at planning it out, and kind of sleep walked through it.

I️ found when I️ was trapped in that mode I️ got captured in the dead end focus of what was trivial about the day rather than what was special. I️ lost my perspective on an amazing customer experience and story a team member was sharing with another leader. I️ missed the smile another customer had with the newness of becoming an owner in something special they’ve never had before. I️ got locked into narrow ways of thinking.

I️ needed to wake up the wonders of my existence in that moment to be back on track. I️ stopped dead in my tracks and just spent time being present. Here’s what it did and what I️ saw.

• The team that was here for the day believed they could change the world and put a dent in it. They played like that, running into the fire of the challenge over and over again. I️ was there to see that.
• The power of getting someone’s name and asking them how they were doing was far more powerful than just creating some ownership. Oh the stories I️ got to hear.
• Compassion is in everyone around us more than we care to take the time to look for it. It’s everywhere if you just stop and look around. Be present versus moving on to the next thing.

Here’s the deal statistically:

The probability of any one of us being here is so small that the mere fact of our existence should keep us all in a state of contented dazzlement. – Lewis Thomas

If you didn’t see that in yourself today, here’s some questions to ask:

Do I️ see the magic in my current role? In my resources?

What deadens my awareness of things? What brings it to life?

We never really completely lose our sense of wonder, we just replacement it with a bunch of other crap that is not nearly as great or inspiring. Everyday I️ write a new blog, now 6 days into the challenge, I️ end with this epiphany. This ah-ha moment that I️ didn’t have when I️ started the day.

Let your wonderment come back to the surface. I️ really hope your first day of the week and beyond will be filled with wonder.

✌🏻 Shawn