#10. Uncertainty and Awe

“In our culture, we’re tough on sadness, but it’s a powerful trigger for seeking comfort and bonding. Meanwhile, anger is often about the sense of being treated unfairly, and can be a motivator for social change.” - Dacher Keltner, author of ‘Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life’

I’m working from Florida this week. I decided to create a non-traditional hopscotch to see how my niece’s kids would react. What I learned was -

    ?? They accepted the uncertainty and created their own way to navigate
    ?? They saw an opportunity took it even further and charted their new path
    ?? A seed’s been planted that there isn’t just one traditional way to do things

This is my Monday Mindfulness today. A 9 and 7 year old taught me to look for awe in uncertainty. They showed me how be nimble and go with the flow!        

We couldn’t misunderstand uncertainty more.

When you shut your mind, when you close the door, when you’re certain you’re going forward in one way only and when you’re open to uncertainty on the way to resolve a problem or get an answer, you’re suddenly in the space of multiple possibilities including multiple perspectives on others.

When you can have uncertainty woven into your life, that means you’re really… a little bit less in control of your life. You’re relinquishing a little bit of control of your life. And you’re also at the, at the edge of what you know. And that’s exactly where the human being thrives. That’s where learning occurs.

Read the article here- Uncertainty can lead to childlike wonder

The word “play” itself can feel juvenile

The word “play” itself can feel juvenile, but in actuality, play and the spirit of playfulness is important to our well-being as adults. Studies have shown that adults who are open to playfulness report less stress and cope better with difficult situations. Play can increase creativity, facilitate social connection and boost energy. The mental health benefits of play are especially crucial now, as the panic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is causing an increase in anxiety and social isolation for many.

Read the article here- Chasing childlike wonder

Greater Good Science Center director Dacher Keltner provided scientific advice to Pixar's new family film.

Awe is an emotion that you feel when you encounter vast things that are mysterious, wonder is what follows awe. It is a mental state, less so an emotion. It’s just a mental state where you’re curious and wanting to explore and discover.

Read the article here- How the GGSC Helped Turn Pixar “Inside Out”

Let’s not pretend to know everything, say I don’t know more often, be open to being uncomfortable to bring back the childlike wonder, and repeat. Have a wonderful week.