ROCK thru with more awe through Connection to Spirit
ABUNDANT LIVING SERIES
by Lee Havenga | November 28, 2024
Spiritual Connection through awe opens the door to profound wonder, especially on Thanksgiving, a day rooted in gratitude. Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, describes awe as the emotion we experience when encountering vast mysteries that shift our focus outward. Among his eight wonders of life, Connection to the mystical offers powerful ways to experience awe. Through the ROCK thru the principle of Connection to Spirit, to Jesus for me, gratitude becomes more than a momentary feeling—it becomes a practice that transforms the ordinary into something sacred and awe-inspiring.
Gratitude as a Path to Awe
As Keltner explains, awe arises when we encounter mysteries that inspire humility and wonder. Gratitude evokes this transformative feeling, particularly when tied to Connection with Spirit. It helps us recognize life’s blessings and the deeper forces that bind us to something greater.
This is the power of gratitude: it lifts us from the ordinary and reminds us of life’s vast beauty.
One cannot help but be in awe when [one] contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality.
—Albert Einstein
CONNECTION
Apply it
Three Gratitude Practices to Inspire Spiritual Awe
Expressing gratitude through prayer or meditation is a direct way to foster spiritual Connection through awe. Writing down your blessings amplifies feelings of gratitude, especially when you reflect on the spiritual aspects of your life. Sharing gratitude aloud creates a communal sense of Connection and awe.
1. Gratitude in Prayer or Meditation (5 minutes)
How to Do It: Set aside a few quiet moments. Begin with deep breaths, then reflect on what you’re grateful for. Speak or think words of thanks: “Thank you for the love that surrounds me, the food on my table, and the beauty of this day.”
Why It Works: Prayer and meditation focus your mind on gratitude, creating space for awe by aligning your spirit with abundance and divine presence.
2. Gratitude Journaling with a Spiritual Lens (5-10 minutes)
How to Do It: Take a few minutes to write three things you’re grateful for. Choose moments that felt meaningful or connected to a greater sense of purpose, like a kind word from a loved one or a moment of stillness that filled you with peace.
Why It Works: Journaling helps you notice the divine in everyday moments, deepening your spiritual Connection through awe and fostering a sense of wonder. 3. Sharing Gratitude as a Group Practice (5-10 minutes)
How to Do It: Around the Thanksgiving table invite each person to share one thing they’re grateful for. Encourage listening and reflection on how these blessings connect to a larger story of love and abundance.
Why It Works: Sharing gratitude builds spiritual Connection through awe by reminding us of the sacred web of relationships and greater forces at work in our lives.
This Thanksgiving, let gratitude lead you to spiritual Connection through awe. By practicing gratitude in prayer, journaling, or sharing with others, you can uncover a profound sense of wonder in the blessings surrounding you. ROCK thru Thanksgiving with gratitude as your guide to Connection, discovering awe in the sacred moments of life.
XO ~ Lee
Source:
Keltner, Dacher. Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Penguin Press, 2023.
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