You are beautiful and wonderful, but this mini-mission invites you to be wonder-full, or full of wonder.
Wonder is defined as:
to think or speculate curiously or to be filled with admiration, amazement, or awe; marvel
To be wonder-full is a combination of both. Be curiously amazed or think through things with admiration or awe. Marvel in your questions and your answers.
10 ways to be wonder-full
try something new
It can be a challenge to break out of a comfortable routine and try something new, but adding a new experience to your life teaches you about what you like and don’t like, and informs future decision making. You may even uncover a passion you didn’t know existed.
be childlike
Jump in puddles. Ask why (over and over again). Roll around laughing. Remind yourself that life can be important without being too serious.
do something scary
Push your limits and question fear. Something scary doesn’t have to be jumping out of a plane. It could be thinking about a new business, going to a yoga class for the first time or talking to someone you’ve never met before.
meet people
Be open to the fact that everyone has something to offer. Different backgrounds, cultures and life experiences gives each of us a unique point of reference and frame of mind. One way is not right or wrong or better or worse. It’s just different. Learn from those differences by asking questions and learning about other people.
daydream
Let your mind wander with wonder. What would happen if…? Wouldn’t it be crazy if I did…? I wonder if I could collaborate with… and then…? Put your day dreams on paper and develop one. Don’t shut yourself down or unprioritize because you are busy. These day dreams are important and can be life changing.
learn
Take a class or course. Read blogs and books. Enjoy discovering and dig for treasure as you learn about something that you didn’t know before. Then, if you love what you’ve learned, teach it to someone else.
grow something
My sister gave me a “year of seeds” with 12 packets of flower seeds, instructions, and a little pot for each. I planted Impatiens about 10 days ago, and have been watching this little pot every day. I’ve seen 3 seeds sprout and one has grown about 2 inches tall and formed tiny leaves. I know that other people have grown things before, but to grow one thing and learn from it every day nothing short of awe-inspiring. Noticing beauty, resilience, and power in this little plant is wonder-full.
journal
a journal doesn’t have to be a record of your life or a diary of your day. It could, but it could also just be a place to empty your head, capture ideas, and wonder about what what you wrote and what you’ll write tomorrow. Some of the best ideas and questions come from writing about the everyday stuff.
visit the ocean
The ocean is bigger than all of your problems and no matter what, the water comes in and the water goes out. Salt, sand and water is just the beginning of an ocean experience. When you really get curious, and dig into wonder-fullness, you can start to think about the world below the waves. Life in the ocean flows without knowledge of time, money or stuff.
read
Opening a book is a commitment to learn about a new point of view, or experience. Reading is entertainment, inspiration and information all in one. I love to read and recently started a book list. Instead of a stack of books that I have to get through, I read one at a time. When I’m finished, I start a new one. Some take longer than others to finish depending on other projects and commitments, but I always look forward to coming back to a good book. It’s where I get lost, and where I get found.
There are so many ways to be wonder-full, but sometimes a full schedule, busy day or time of worry closes us off. Take small steps, be wonder-full one at a time and revel, marvel and be in awe of all that the world has to offer and all that you have to give back.
How will you be wonder-full today?
For more experiments to simplify your life, read Mini-missions for Simplicity. It’s available on the Amazon Kindle store, but you don’t need a Kindle to read it. Kindle books can also be read using the Free Kindle Reader App for your Web Browser, PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android.
