To see things thousands of miles away, things hidden behind walls and within rooms, things dangerous to come to, to draw closer, to see and be amazed. http://amzn.to/1U9fhc9
Movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
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Why we still need to be amazed
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty takes its motto from Life magazine. To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to draw closer, to see and be amazed. That last phrase is the heart of it. Walter spends years daydreaming. Then, finally, he goes out and lets real life surprise him.
Wonder is not only for travellers. It is a skill, and like any skill, it can fade. Adults often lose the habit of wonder because everything starts to feel familiar. The commute, the office and the same streets blur together. As a result, days pass without leaving any trace in memory.
Training yourself to be amazed again
The good news is that you can train wonder. One method is to look at familiar places with fresh eyes. Take a different route home. Visit a museum in your own city. Ask a colleague about a hobby you know nothing about. Small changes like these break routine and invite surprise back into your week.
Another method is to learn something completely new. A language, an instrument or a sport forces you to become a beginner again. Beginners notice everything, because nothing is automatic yet. That state of attention is exactly what makes people feel amazed by details they once ignored.
Research also links awe with wellbeing. Studies by Dacher Keltner suggest that moments of awe reduce stress and make people more generous. In other words, being amazed is not a luxury. It is a healthy part of life. So, like Walter, step out of the daydream now and then. Draw closer, look carefully and let the world do the rest.
