Raising greatness: Creating Awe Experiences

This week, we are continuing to explore "raising greatness in our children and those we lead." Awe-inspiring experiences are the secret ingredient to both establishing dreams and keeping them alive. The mundane aspects of life have a way of undermining inspiration, the fuel for dreams. Introducing awe at an early age and often is essential for recalibrating the heart and mind for adventure, possibility, and dreaming. When we get stuck in a rut or comfort zone, the imagination ceases to ignite. To think outside the box, we must see outside the box. And nothing in this world does that more effectively than experiencing an awe-inspiring moment. These moments often turn into crossroads or turning-point moments that penetrate deep into the soul. They are lasting because of the sensory system effect. They take the sensory system into uncharted waters that literally change us. Knowing this, we then carefully craft and navigate life to open doors to awe for our children or even for those we lead.

I remember vividly when awe was introduced to me. I was seven when my dad was transferred from Salt Lake City to Midland, Texas. He did something brilliant for our move. He knew that the transition would be hard, leaving our friends and beautiful mountains behind. So he took us on a national park trip on the way to Texas. We visited Bryce Canyon National Park, then Zion National Park, and finally the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. It was my initial sensory recalibration of my life. It got my attention. The sights, sounds, and colors were otherworldly and huge. And mostly, I think I was moved by the expansiveness of each. The Grand Canyon was mesmerizing. I was so small, yet it was so breathtaking. I grew up a lot just staring and thinking. My ability to dream big was ignited. Just knowing these places existed expanded my perspective on life. I knew that at that moment, my adventurous spirit was birthed. If these existed, there must be more awe out there. I knew that I would become an explorer of awe and have been ever since.

My first visit to the Pacific Ocean was similar. The crashing waves, the roar, and the distant horizon were transformational. While I seemed so insignificant in comparison, there was a security placed in my spirit that day that could only have come from the Creator. The Pacific represented limitless possibilities for the bold explorer. It inspired courage to dream big dreams in uncharted waters. It birthed deep thinking, new for me as a kid. Though I didn’t know it at that moment, it enhanced my language. I could sense new adjectives were needed to express what I sensed. It became a well that I would dip into when writing in the future.