Category: Wonder

Do You Have A Personal Philosophy?

Do you have a guiding principle in your life, one that helps you make the day-to-day decisions you are called upon to make? Do you have a personal philosophy?

Philosophy, for some, is an intimidating-sounding word. It might conjure images of long-dead, long-bearded, humorless men lecturing others on how to behave.

In reality, though, philosophy just means thinking about your life. If you have ever wondered about the world and your place in it, you have participated in philosophy.

It is one of the oldest areas of knowledge, which makes sense. What differentiates us from other animals is the size of our brain, and using that brain to ponder anything and everything comes naturally to us.

While there are numerous philosophy texts and classes, concentrating on great thinkers over the last two or three thousand years, it can be surprisingly relevant on a personal level. If you develop a set of personal guidelines, and individual mission statement, as it were, you are building a personal philosophy.

For example, one person might choose kindness a core belief. Be as kind as possible to everyone you meet, no matter their age, race, or religion. When faced with an unexpected or new situation, first think: “Can being kind help make this situation better?”

Alternately, someone might reason that the only person they are truly beholden to is themselves. Personal comfort, achievement, and happiness is what is most important. After all, you have just one life, and no one else lives it.

Admittedly, these examples are simplistic. As you live your complicated life, chances are there are a number of different guiding principles and motivations. Still, a personal philosophy is helpful to have, and useful to spell out in detail.

What guides you? What is your personal philosophy?

Related questions: What makes you you? How do we become our best self? Is there a principle according to which you try to live your life? What gives you purpose?

Does Your Holiday Fill You With Wonder?

The end of the year is filled with all sorts of holidays. Whatever holiday you celebrate, does it fill you with wonder?

Having a sense of wonder is, well, wonderful. To look around you and be filled with a sense of awe is a feeling like no other.

And yet, the older we get, the harder it is to maintain that sense of grandeur, or awesomeness. It might be a function of age, or perhaps experience. It might have something to do with how busy we are, or how tired we may get.

Whatever the reason may be, it is typical for awe to decrease as we get older. Our sense of wonder can be harder to tap into.

But we still try, and sometimes we are even successful.

Do you find yourself filled with awe, when celebrating your religious or secular holiday? Or do you find yourself jaded? Or something in between?

Related questions: What do you find awe-inducing? How can we maintain wonder? What is your favorite holiday memory? What does the holiday mean to you?

What Do You Find Awe-Inducing?

Louis Armstrong’s gravelly yet beautiful voice blessed a tune that recounts the beauty of earth-bound nature and the sacredness of the nighttime sky. The song is filled with awe, and includes some lines about babies who will grow and learn more than he’d ever know. And so, Louis “thought to [himself], what a wonderful world.”
Sometimes, we find it difficult to escape our rushed and patterned lives to witness the awe that surrounds us. But once in a while–heck, as often as you can–you would be wise to look around you and find reason to see that we live in a wonderful world.
As for me, one of the most magical things I see comes after a dandelion seed finds a crack in the cement and grows impressive roots and an above-ground stem and flower that some hate but others love. If you dislike dandelions, did you know that all parts of a dandelion are edible? The plant is a good source of vitamins A, C, K, and D, along with calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. How awesome is that! I am similarly amazed that a tiny cottonwood seed created the mammoth tree in my neighbor’s backyard.
Music also fascinates me. When experiencing the Sunday Scaries, I often don my headphones, open my music app, and randomize play from my 1,171 top-rated songs. While it’s cliché, music transports me to another place. It doesn’t matter the mood or subject of the tunes my app picks; I end the night in a better place than before notes hit my eardrums. There’s a scientific answer to this transportation: our brains release dopamine, a happiness-inducing chemical, when we listen to tunes. How lucky are we to have music in this world of ours!
I could go on with the things in the universe that captivate me. But I’d prefer to read your answers.
What do you find awe-inducing?

What’s The Most Amazing Natural Wonder You’ve Experienced?

There is a large variety of natural (i.e not man-made) beauty in the world. This includes mountains, waterfalls, canyons, coral reefs, sand dunes, and more. What do you consider the most remarkable natural wonder you’ve seen in person?

Share why if you wish.

Have You Had An ‘Aha!’ Moment?

Was there any time in your life that you had a flash of insight? A eureka, or ‘Aha!’ moment? Can you describe it?

Share why if you wish.