What is awe? Awe has become a popular point of conversation in fields of scientific research, especially neuroscience. The brain loves awe. The brain benefits from awe. Awe is what makes life, and recovery, so awesome. By definition, awe is “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder”. Reverential respect is the deepest kind of respect, often stemming from a spiritual place. Closely connected to humility and being humble, awe is the jaw dropping wonder we get in the presence of something amazing. To find something awesome is to find something “extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear.” Recovery is awesome. It is both impressive that addicts and alcoholics can turn their lives around and never pick up a drink or drug again, as well as it is daunting to imagine making such a significant life change. We can find great admiration for people in recovery, inspired by their strength, courage, discipline, and bravery. Many of us have experienced apprehension in recovery, whether we were apprehensive about going to treatment, apprehensive about how to talk to a loved one going to treatment, or even apprehensive about what it would mean to ask for help. In terms of fear, recovery is full of healthy fear. To a degree we fear the unknown, which is why we’re encouraged to take recovery one day at a time. We also fear the known- that relapse is possible and could happen any time. Yet, all the other awe-stuff conquers the fear with that humble reverential respect that recovery, indeed life, is something quite bigger than us.
“He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe,” Albert Einstein once warned, “is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.” Recovery helps us to open our eyes to the world and mindfully notice when we become shut off again. Awe is never far away. We can be amazed by the vastness of life in everything we see. Carl Sagan once said, “For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.” Living in awe of recovery and the vastness of life is to live in love of life. As addicts and alcoholics, we spent too many years hiding from the love life had to offer us, seeking it instead in some of life’s darkest places. Awe can be found everywhere. For an extra dose of awe, try these awesome suggestions.
Learn Something New
How many times have you done a nature trail, gone to a museum, purchased an item, and focused only on the immediate? The world is full of fascinating information which gives everything around us more depth. Practice stopping to read the placards, pick up a brochure, or even look up the facts or history of where you are on the internet. Everywhere we step is a passage in time. Millions of years stand beneath our feet. That’s awesome.
Go Somewhere Big
The soul expands in response to what it sees. There’s a reason we’re struck with awe when we see a density of stars for the first time, visit tremendous spans of open space like the Grand Canyon, or bear witness to animals in their natural environment. If you can’t get to somewhere big, practice making everything big. Take into consideration what it takes to build the world you see around you. Have you ever noticed how large buildings can be and the steel beams it takes to build them? It’s amazing.
Reflect On Your Life
Sometimes, we don’t want to remember what it was like when things were hard. Many of us have faced challenges which took an immense amount of integrity to overcome. Today, you stand on the precipice of a new life with endless possibilities as your potential. Even when you thought you wouldn’t make it, you continued to persevere. That is awe-inspiring.
Avalon By The Sea wants to inspire serenity and recovery in every client. Treating both mental health and substance use disorders as primary conditions, our treatment facilities seek to heal mind, body, and spirit. FOr a confidential assessment and more information, call us today at 888-958-7511.
