Heart Wide Open: Cultivating Awe for a More Joyful Life
There comes a time in life when the pace slows just enough for us to start asking different kinds of questions. Not the loud, urgent ones like “What’s next?” or...
There comes a time in life when the pace slows just enough for us to start asking different kinds of questions. Not the loud, urgent ones like “What’s next?” or “How do I get ahead?”—but the quieter, more meaningful ones: What truly brings me joy? How can I feel more alive, more connected, more like myself again?
Maybe you've spent years caring for others, building a career, or simply navigating life’s ups and downs—and somewhere along the way, a quiet yearning began to grow. Not just for happiness, but for something richer. Something deeper. Something that touches your soul.
This is where awe enters—not as a grand, dramatic revelation, but as a soft, steady invitation to come back home to yourself. Awe isn’t reserved for mountaintops or spiritual retreats. It lives in the everyday moments: the hush of morning light, the unexpected kindness of a stranger, the way your heart swells at the sound of a familiar laugh.
Awe is a way of seeing. A way of feeling. A way of living with your heart wide open.
Inspired by the wisdom of thought leaders like Jay Shetty and Eckhart Tolle, this post explores the 7 Pillars of Awe—gentle, grounding practices that help us reconnect with the wonder woven through our lives. Because awe doesn’t ask us to do more. It simply asks us to notice more.
So if you're ready to soften into the beauty that already surrounds you, to feel lit up by life in the most soul-nourishing way—you're in the right place. Let’s begin.
1. Presence: The Gift of Right Now
Awe begins with presence. In a world constantly nudging us toward the next thing, presence asks us to stop. To breathe. To be.
As Eckhart Tolle reminds us, “Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.”
When you drop into the moment—fully, quietly—you begin to notice the little miracles. The softness of your blanket. The rhythm of your breath. The way the light dances on the floor. Presence allows awe to bloom, even in the most ordinary spaces.
Practice: Take a few minutes each day to sit in silence, without your phone, without distractions. Just you, your breath, and the moment.
2. Nature: The Original Wonder
There’s something about the natural world that gently reawakens us. A tree standing tall. Ocean waves rolling in rhythm. The hush of snowfall or the warmth of sun on skin. Nature is awe, embodied.
Jay Shetty often speaks of reconnecting with the earth as a path to inner peace. “Spending time in nature resets the soul,” he says. And it's true—nature reminds us we’re part of something greater, something beautifully alive.
Practice: Step outside with the intention to witness, not rush. Look for the details: the veins on a leaf, the color of the sky, the way the wind feels. Let yourself marvel.
3. Creativity: Channeling the Soul’s Expression
Awe lives in the act of creation—not perfection. Whether it’s painting, cooking, journaling, or dancing in your kitchen, creativity invites awe by allowing your inner self to come forward.
Jay Shetty says, “Creativity is the way we connect with our truth.” When you create, you access a part of yourself that is both ancient and ever-new.
Practice: Try something creative without expecting an outcome. Let it be messy, soulful, playful. Let it be for you.
4. Relationships: The Awe of Connection
There’s a sacred kind of awe that arises in the presence of real connection. It could be a deep conversation, a quiet moment shared, or a simple smile that says “I see you.”
When you show up with your heart open—vulnerable, honest, present—you invite awe into your relationships. As Jay Shetty shares, “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.”
Practice: Reach out to someone with love today. A heartfelt message. A long hug. A thank you. Watch how even a small moment of connection can open your heart.
5. Learning: Staying Open, Staying Curious
Awe thrives in the unknown. It’s born in moments where we say, “I never thought of it that way.” Learning isn’t just about information—it’s about transformation.
Eckhart Tolle encourages us to stay open to life: “Life will give you whatever experience is most helpful for the evolution of your consciousness.”
Practice: Read something inspiring. Listen to a podcast that stretches your thinking. Ask a question you don’t know the answer to. Stay curious.
6. Service: The Awe of Giving
There’s a quiet beauty in showing up for others with no agenda. A moment of compassion. A helping hand. A genuine compliment. In giving, we experience our deepest connection to humanity.
Jay Shetty reminds us, “When you serve others, you serve yourself.” Giving allows us to step outside of ourselves and into something vast and sacred.
Practice: Find one small way to serve today. It doesn’t have to be grand. Let it be heartfelt.
7. Stillness: Letting the Soul Speak
Stillness isn’t emptiness—it’s fullness without noise. In stillness, awe gently rises like a tide, unhurried and deep.
Eckhart Tolle calls it “the inner space where true peace lives.” In the stillness, we return to ourselves. We remember what matters.
Practice: Carve out just five minutes for stillness. No phone. No task. Just space to breathe and be.
Closing: Living a Life Lit by Awe
Awe isn’t a one-time experience—it’s a way of life. A way of softening into the moment, of opening your heart just a little wider, of seeing beauty where you used to see routine.
As Jay Shetty beautifully says, “Awe is the gateway to gratitude, and gratitude is the gateway to joy.”
So keep your heart wide open. Let the small things move you. Let life surprise you. Let awe find you again and again—until it becomes a part of who you are.