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Perspective

Another crucial factor related to the extent of wonder we experience is our own perspective of the world.

Perspective is often challenging to alter because it's deeply ingrained in the way we subconsciously process and perceive the world. It's shaped by a combination of our life experiences and beliefs.

However, perspective is something we can bring into conscious awareness if we're willing to do so.

Sometimes, it takes a revelatory moment to snap us out of our subconscious perspective of the world.

In 2016, I embarked on my first solo backpacking trip to Vietnam. Initially, I felt overwhelmed.

This place was a stark contrast to the small-town Canadian living I was accustomed to.

Instead of the childlike wonder I had imagined while rifling through travel picture books, I felt a bit lost and scared.

I wasn't keen on taking the tourist route or trying to make Western friends to travel with, so for the first few days, I grappled with loneliness.

Then, one night, I encountered an elderly Vietnamese man sitting on the sidewalk brewing tea outside my hotel.

He invited me to join him for a cup of tea out of the blue, perhaps sensing my loneliness. I happily accepted.

To my surprise, he spoke perfect English and had spent a significant portion of his life in America. We spent hours, well into the early morning, conversing and sipping on some of the strongest, most bitter tea I'd ever tasted (I'm not a tea enthusiast, but I couldn't refuse his generosity).

He shared stories of his childhood in Vietnam, how much the country had transformed over his lifetime, and the reasons for his return.

He offered advice and recounted the most profound lessons from his own life.

He showed genuine interest in the aspects of my life too, and there was no sense of condescension between us, despite the significant age difference.

I didn't sleep at all that night; apparently, the tea was highly caffeinated, and our conversation continued until 2 a.m. But that encounter dramatically altered my perspective on travel, other cultures, and humanity.

Afterward, I found myself in a state of awe and wonder everywhere I went.

Instead of feeling lonely and somewhat lost, I became content with the simplest experiences.

I was no longer trapped in my thoughts; I was observing the magic of a different culture, engaging with people who had amazing stories to tell, and relishing these moments as a child would, renting stacks of travel books from the library, only better.

The only difference between my initial experience and the one I had after that enlightening encounter was my perspective.

I often experience similar moments of clarity in Thailand, where we now reside.

Over time, things that were once novel and filled with wonder can become routine and overlooked.

For instance, the drive through our little village up to the dam is an extraordinarily beautiful experience on a clear blue day.

The dense mountain jungles behind the village, the distant, unobstructed view of Chiang Dao mountain, the rolling green rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see, the ever-present "summer" weather, and the cool morning breeze—it's a moment of pure beauty and wonder.

However, I must consciously adjust my perspective to fully appreciate it. It has become a regular occurrence.

When I find myself slipping into complacency, I make an effort to reset my perspective.

I take myself through mental exercises that restore a perspective of wonder.

What if I had to leave Thailand and would never have these experiences again?

Wouldn't I cherish this moment?

Alternatively, I imagine myself scraping ice off my car in Canada in -30°C weather and driving to work through a meter of snow.

That quickly realigns my perspective.

This usually leads to a shift in how I perceive the present moment, allowing me to experience it, to some degree, as if it were entirely new.

In summary, the way we view the world around us significantly influences our capacity to feel the emotion of wonder every day, and ultimately we can control that perspective.

Gratitude

I've read about many successful people starting their day with a gratitude journal, which is undeniably a positive mindset to begin the day with.

However, I had never considered how much this practice could contribute to the amount of wonder I feel in my life.

Gratitude involves shifting our focus to appreciate what we have rather than dwelling on what we lack.

This powerful practice acts as a key to unlock a deep well of wonder in the world.

In 2017, while traveling through the Amazon rainforest, Laurel and I had the privilege of participating in a 10-day Ayahuasca retreat.

During that brief period, I experienced numerous powerful lessons and revelatory moments, but one, in particular, continues to stay with me.

The Shaman, Monahin, led us through internal journeys using Icaros (magic songs), instruments, and vocalization techniques.

However, what impacted me most was a moment of simple prayer during a profound silence in the symphony of the rainforest.

Throughout the nightly ceremonies, the insects, birds, and animals would come alive, creating a cacophony of layered sounds as a backdrop to our ceremony.

But when Monahin prayed, the entire jungle fell silent, as if showing reverence along with us.

Monahin was Catholic, and he deeply integrated his faith into his ceremonies.

The sound of the beginning of his prayer still sends shivers down my spine today.

He would repeat, "Podemos Gracias Senior, Podemos gracias," translated as "We thank you, Lord, We thank you."

It moved me to tears every time, and my eyes well up just writing about it.

In those moments, the gratitude went beyond superficiality.

While prayers over food or liturgies can sometimes become obligatory and shallow, when he prayed, and we prayed together, it was thanks from the deepest part of our existence.

It was gratitude for existence itself, for everything that has unfolded, is unfolding, and will unfold in our life's journey, and beyond.

It was thanks for death, pain, suffering, and the absence of it.

It was thanks for every creature, plant, element, and emotion.

It was gratitude embodied.

The days, weeks, and months after that experience deeply integrated a feeling of gratitude into my very being.

It made everything, whether big or small, wondrous, magical, meaningful, and filled with joy.

While I don't often reach that level of emotional intensity with gratitude these days, the experience of it has left an indelible guiding light on my soul.

I am as guilty as anyone else of being ungrateful, but when I push myself to practice this emotion more in my life, wonder follows almost instantly.

Conclusion

After all this reflection on my own life and the emotion of wonder, and my diminishing experience of it, I am coming to the conclusion that it indeed does not originate from external sources.

If we allow ourselves to be the "ignorant child," we open the door for the world to surprise us once again with its beauty.

When we make an effort to spend more time in the present moment, we become attuned to the magic that surrounds us.

By changing our perspective to view the world as a wondrous place, we grant ourselves the opportunity to experience it as such.

And if we practice being more appreciative of everything around us every day, wonder will become a constant companion wherever we go.

Journey well, friends.

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