Twelve Ways To Rediscover Wonder.

1. Approach life from the place of hope: There are two basic ways to approach life, from innocence and optimism or with cynicism. And at any given moment, each of us makes this choice many times. The path of innocence promotes renewal while the path of cynicism slowly erodes our spirit.

2. See life with fresh eyes: Make a choice to see life again with a new set of eyes. Be aware of the joy all around you, believe that the universe if friendly, affirm the beauty in all things, see in your marriage possibilities, know your work makes a difference, choose again the possibilities of your vocation and once again reclaim your ideals.

3. Find out what really matters most to you: Take time to reflect and do some intentional digging to get more in touch with rediscovering your ideals and sense of purpose. When you fail to become aware of what really matters to you, when you fail to notice the rhythms of your life, you can easily wind up feeling as if you are going at full speed in the wrong direction.

4. Remember what you loved to do when you were young: Find those parts of your childhood you left behind. Explore hints from your childhood about your natural ‘loves’. Is there a way to recapture that child who mastered baseball cards, the explorer who searched the rocks for fossils, the child who loved to dress up in costumes. Incorporate these elements back into your adult life and watch some of the innocence of life return.

5. See life detours as neither good nor bad experiences: Innocence is possible when we recognize that detours are signs and opportunities as opposed to obstacles. Rather than curse the detours, try opening your heart to them when presented by saying “Isn’t this interesting that I have come to this possibility. I wonder where this road may lead?”

6. Choose the courage to live: Courage is a choice not to lose heart in spite of disappointment and the loss of ideals in life. Take a look at the areas of your life that you are tempted to lose courage in right now, in what realms do you need courage to hold onto your ideals, to take the risk of love and goodness in spite of the risks?

7. Enjoy and experience the awe of wonder: Begin by keeping your eyes and senses open, be willing to stop in the middle of the ‘important’ stuff to breathe in the ‘little things’ that life has to offer. Choose to see the mystery that is alive around you, the 200 year old tree, the raindrops hitting your face, the 6 legged bug your daughter brought home. Choose to see that innocence and joy are almost always waiting just outside your window ledge.

8. Realize your job is bigger than you think: See your work with more possibilities, never stop looking with innocent wonder at what your job might produce if you bring more of yourself to it. It is possible that whatever you are doing, your true work is nobler than you think. See the possibilities in every moment, in every interaction you have and in every role you play and then watch it unfold in mysterious and wonderful ways.

9. Cultivate an ability to be truly present: The only real power have to go anything is in the present. The past is behind us and the future is ahead of us. To have our minds focused on the past or the future has only one power over us: it robs us and robs others of our full attention.

10. Remember that faith is a choice to act anyways: Faith is a way of seeing the world, a choice we make to take action even when we cannot see guarantee our results. It is to trust in the unseen and to believe in the goodness of life and others. To act in caring ways, believing that life is good even when you can find lots to justify that it isn’t.

11. Know what life expects from you: Ask yourself “What can I give to life and the world today?” Many of us ask “What can life do for me today?” Asking the first question keeps us from boredom and connects us to meaning and purpose in life.

12. Live as if: Live as if it matter what you do with your life, as if your life could truly impact the world around you. Ponder these questions: How would you have to be different today if you believed you could change the world? How would you have to be different in your job if you thought it was noble work? How would you have to be different in your primary relationships if you believed it could be a great romance?