Recent research shows that feeling awe on a regular basis sharpens our minds and makes us feel more alive. Feeling awe makes us better thinkers.
But what does “awe” actually mean?
Awe is that feeling we get when we encounter something larger than ourselves. Like watching a beautiful sunset.
You know, the stuff that we’re often too distracted to experience.
Does that mean we should all travel to see these beautiful sights?
Not really. I don’t think that’s sustainable. Also, chasing after pleasant experiences is not a good solution to making ourselves feel more alive.
Instead, we can do these 3 things to feel more alive this year.
1. Go on a road trip
I can’t recommend this enough. Pack up your stuff and drive to a different country or state.
I’ve been doing this now every year since 2022, and I love it. First, I went with my dad. The last several times with my partner.
We’ve done thousands of miles. Every time, we sleep in a different city. Now, you can also do this if you don’t have a car or much time.
You can just travel for a few days and then come back.
The true experience is in the trip itself. You’re constantly exposed to NEW things.
And that’s true gold in today’s routine-based life.
Everyone is crazy about their habits and routines these days. And I get it. Consistency is important.
But so is novelty.
Just do something that requires you to use all your senses. And the best thing in my experience is going on a road trip.
2. Find the three, simple things that soothe you
We feel more alive when we’re in a calmed, relaxed state. It’s definitely harder to be more present and aware of the world if you’re too busy and stressed out at work!
Now, having a vacation is nice. But we can’t do that every single time. So the best alternative is to find three simple things that soothes or relaxes you.
It could be anything small like brewing a cup of tea, listening to your favorite song, or meditating.
Marcus Aurelius said it best:
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.”
Allow yourself these moments of serenity, and they will act as your sanctuary amidst the chaos.
3. Cut down on content consumption
Everything you suspect about consuming content is true: It makes you passive, lazy, and addicted.
I’ve been cutting down on content consumption a lot recently. I’ve used YouTube Premium for many years now. But I canceled it.
I consumed A LOT of content on YT. From podcasts to informational videos. I’m done with always opening the YT app.
I’m not really a social media type of guy, so I don’t use it anyway. But if you do, I recommend getting rid of it for a while.
The only content I consume now is audio. I’m back to listening to podcasts, which I didn’t do for years. And reading of course. I still read books and articles. That’s my default.
But getting rid of visual content is a must. We already watch enough content.
Use your time to make progress on your goals. And to DO MORE.
A new year means new chances
What month is it today? It doesn’t matter. Feeling more alive “this year” is always up to you. Whether the year is just starting or ending, it’s up to you whether you’ll start and continue to change something.
So if you want to build new habits, and it’s still January, then great!
Go for it. But even if it’s the middle of the month, or the last month of the year, you can always start to improve your life and happiness. As Seneca said:
“As long as you live, keep learning how to live.”
Every day is a new opportunity to feel more alive. Don’t wait for a new year to revitalize your life; the power for change is always in the present.
