If you can’t read the steps in the diagram….. here it is:

1. We begin in a state of “ease and flow”
2. Then something happens… we’ll call it “something to learn” – and it may be painful
3. At this point we can choose “wonder” through curiosity and find ourselves back into ease (but this usually doesn’t happen)
4. What we usually do is go into “defense” to protect ourselves from the pain
5. This leads us deeper into defense and we can become a victim, perpetrator or rescuer focused on the problem rather than being curious
6. And as we descend into this defensive mode, we enter the state of being in “the grip” – we are stuck and it is painful….
7. And the way out…. yup, it still curiosity, wonder and awe –

Awe is a choice….

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mirabi Starr advises us in Ordinary Mysticism to cultivate “radical amazement”…. awe! Here is a 2-minute audio clip from her book.

Among her observations about awe is the following:

When we experience awe our DMN (Default Mode Network) or “monkey mind” that keeps us caught up in a fear filled loop (or perhaps the “grip”) becomes quiet. The DMN is linked to the sense that we are an individual somebody, separate and alone in the world. When the DMN is stilled we open to the rest of creation, we turn our attention to others.

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Neuroscientist, Beau Lotto, explores the value of awe in the following Ted Talk. I am indebted to the amazing educators at Common Earth for introducing me to the following exploration of awe…

How we experience awe… and why it matters!