Spaciousness, Beauty, and Awe
Bryce Canyon National Park ~ Summer 2020
During the summer of 2020, my eldest son came to collect me for a multi-state roadtrip. He, living in Colorado and having visited numerous natural spaces throughout the west, decided an outing in the desert would do our souls some good. He would drive; I would supply snacks.
Prior to departing California, we sauntered along the seashore, floated down a frenzied river, and forest bathed in the redwoods. Throughout Utah we visited five national parks, three state parks, spent an epic night on the edge of a mountain in a unique yurt, and witnessed a spectacular showcase of shooting stars.
But when I reflect on this sensational journey, there’s one specific scenario that significantly stands out.
On day one of our Utah exploration, while just a few miles from Bryce Canyon National Park, I was surprised, and intrigued, when he asked me to close my eyes.
“Trust me on this one. If you can keep your eyes closed, you’re about to experience something surreal.”
I closed my eyes.
During those tranquil darkened miles, I attempted to imagine what I would witness upon our arrival.
We slowed. He parked.
“Sit tight. I’m coming around to get you. Don’t open your eyes until I tell you.”
I sat tight.
He opened my door and took my hand.
“Keep ‘em closed.”
I kept my eyes closed while he guided me along a brief path.
“Careful. There’s a rock. Step up and over. We’re almost there.”
As I stepped and stayed careful, my heart began to pound. I felt tingly. And although my eyes had only been briefly closed, my other senses began kicking into high gear. I could hear the silence. My skin felt alive.
We stopped.
“Take a few more little steps.”
As I inched toward where he was guiding me, I noticed the air felt different, lighter somehow. I could feel the space offer its stillness. I felt enveloped by tranquility and calm. My body, sensing the expansion and vastness, instinctively responded by inhaling deeply and inviting it in. It was… sublime.
“Okay. Are you ready?”
“I’m not sure. Am I?”
He laughed.
“Go ahead and open them.”
As I slowly opened my eyes, my breath caught and the tears came. I was in awe.
Was it the contrast of a baby-blue sky converging with brick-red hoodoos? Was it the out-of-body feeling I experienced as I stared over the plateaus into the vast amphitheater-shaped formations? Was it the opposition, or the integration, of the majestic deep green trees standing tall against the delicate pinnacles of rock and stone?
It was all of it. It was tremendous, perhaps perfect, magnificence. It was transcendent.
“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”
~ Albert Einstein
Awe is a mysterious and complex emotion. While creatives, philosophers, and spiritual leaders have long pondered awe and its ability to change how we feel about ourselves and our world, it’s only during the past 20 years that psychologists have truly begun studying this emotion. This area of research is so new that we’re, in fact, just discovering the impact on the physical, psychological, and social effects the feeling of awe can induce.
Awe induces us to process new information about our environment and shifts our attention away from ourselves while evoking the feeling of inclusion which helps us feel like we are part of a larger whole. When we encounter the sensation of awe, our expectations have been exceeded, and, when an experience, in any way, exceeds our expectations, it realigns the processes in which we attempt to understand our world. Awe elicits appreciation of beauty, creativity, and gratitude which invites feelings of reverence, veneration, and respect for space and place.
“When it comes to psychological effects, studies have found that awe can create a diminished sense of self, give people the sense that they have more available time, increase feelings of connectedness, increase critical thinking and skepticism, increase positive mood, and decrease materialism.”
~ Summer Allen, Ph. D. - The Science of Awe
People who experience awe place less value on money and prefer experiences over material things, tend to feel less negatively about losing possessions, forego self interest while looking to improve the well-being of others, begin to understand and appreciate their sense of interrelatedness woven throughout the fabric of the whole, and have a greater overall sense of satisfaction with their life.
There’s a link between awe and happiness and it has the ability to travel through nature and into our spaces.
I spend countless hours counseling clients through their clutter while working to help them develop the backdrop of their lives. Most are focused on the stuff that’s staring at us seemingly wanting a solution. Many are so focused on the stuff, where to put it, how to store it, how long should I keep it, why do I have it, I can’t let it go, why is it here, but I spent so much money, what’s wrong with me, (I could go on and on here but you get the point) that they’re missing what they’re missing.
When we follow the guidelines and align our personal spaces with the predetermined cycles, clues, cues, and rhythms of our natural world, we’re in alignment with the natural laws of the universe. When we set up shop and surround ourselves with spaciousness, beauty, and awe, we are creating a cadence for our space that is nurturing, supportive, and regenerative.
If we’re surrounded by chaos, we will feel chaotic. If our space is fractured and frenzied, we will feel fractured and frenzied. Whatever we’ve decided to surrounded ourselves with will begin to infiltrate our psyche and we will carry these feelings with us. When a space is full of all. the. stuff., it can become a chasm of chaos rather than a place intended for retreat and refuge. Stuff is a distraction and is the opposite of awe.
If we’re surrounded by beauty, we invite beauty to accompany us, which, in turn, serves as a conduit to a creating a beautiful life. When we surround ourselves with textures, colors, scents, and sights that entice our senses, we awaken an internal aliveness that feels simple and harmonious at a cellular level. When our space is supportive and serene, we feel supported and serene and these are the feelings we will carry with us.
Beauty and awe in. Clutter and chaos out.
Spoiler Alert: You don’t need to be guided with your eyes closed to the edge of a cliff in the middle of a Utah desert to experience awe. Although, if you are given the opportunity, please say yes.
Ten Simple Ways to Experience Everyday Awe :
Place a photo, piece of art, or sculpture somewhere you can see often that entices your attention.
Surround yourself with handmade story-telling treasures. The pottery you bought in Santa Fe, the blanket your grandmother made. Think history, depth, and meaning.
Fresh flowers, plants, an indoor herb garden.
Linger in the shower and let the water fully transport you. Water is the essence of all life. Being near it, on it, in it, or with it, water has the power to transform. Consider an indoor water feature or fountain.
Slow down and notice.
Consider one full day a week without technology. (If you’ve been feeling a bit burned out and are longing to awaken creativity, I highly recommended this one.)
Bring in fractals. Fractals are patterns that self-repeat and can be found all over nature. Looking at fractals has been proven to reduce stress and mental fatigue.
Awe can also be induced by witnessing a sporting event, an artist at work, listening to classical music, reading literature, or playing an instrument. Engage in a speech or lesson from your favorite author, thought leader, or teacher.
Cook. Bake. Fill your home with the fragrance of delicious, healthy food. Eat slowly. Savor the flavors. Consider buying local eggs, honey, and seasonal fruits and vegetables.
Wake early and watch the sun rise. Star gaze. Watch the moon cycle. Take a walk. Sit with a tree.
And if you’re not quite sure where to begin, simply close your eyes, imagine, inhale deeply, and invite spaciousness, tranquility, and serenity to accompany you. Take little steps. Search out the experiences that make your heart pound and your skin feel tingly. Surround yourself with beauty. Seek the sublime.
An awesome adventure awaits.