Well•come, kin. Pause, and take a deep, calming breath with me. In… and out… As you breathe, remind yourself of your innate wisdom and wholeness. With each breath—be here. Fully present, as we embark on this journey together.

LaShaun Certified behavior analyst, founding former Director of The University of South Florida’s (USF) Wellness Resource Center, Founder of GLOW Women’s Gathering with credentials in Neuroscience for Business from MIT Sloan.

​

Every so often, the noise of life drowns out our ability to feel connected. But even in the chaos, awe waits, quietly humming in the background. It doesn’t take a burning bush or the parting of the sea to reignite that sense of wonder. Awe is often far smaller, tucked inside the folds of your everyday life, waiting to be seen. A sliver of light dappling through the trees, a baby’s tiny fist wrapped around your finger, the slow curl of smoke wafting from the incense—each holds a profound capacity to take us beyond ourselves.
​
This happened to me.
​
Imagine sitting down to a simple breakfast of whole grain toast with almond butter and sliced banana. As you take your first bite, you are paused to consider the intricate journey each ingredient has taken to reach your plate.
​
These thoughts captured me one day.
​
The wheat in the toast began as a tiny seed, nurtured by a farmer in sun-drenched fields. It was harvested, milled into flour, and mixed with yeast cultivated from microscopic organisms. The dough rose, shaped by skilled hands or precise machinery, before being baked to golden perfection.

The almond butter started as blossoms on a tree, pollinated by industrious bees. The almonds grew, were harvested, roasted, and ground into a creamy spread. Each step required the expertise of: farmers. food scientists. factory workers.

The banana traveled from a tropical plantation, carefully picked at just the right moment of ripeness. It was packed, shipped across oceans, and distributed to your local store, maintaining its delicate flavor through a complex cold chain.

Even the plate has a story – clay extracted from the earth, shaped, glazed, and fired in a kiln. The knife that sliced the banana was forged from metal ore, mined, and refined before being crafted into a tool.

As I chewed, I considered the countless synchronicities…the lifecycle of food, from field workers to truck drivers to grocery clerks. Marvel at the global network of agriculture, transportation, and commerce that brought these ingredients together.

This simple meal connected sun and soil, to the rhythm of seasons and the miracle of plant growth. It links to ancient traditions of bread-making and modern marvels of food preservation. In each mouthful, you can taste the labor of hundreds, the orchestrations of nature, and the ingenuity of human civilization. It was awesome!
​
​My sandwich was a sensei (✯◡✯) ​
​
​Awe is the antidote to our self-absorbed world, a splash of wonder in the desert of routine.
​

​

​

What’s remarkable is that awe, once evoked, has a particular way of rearranging our insides. Research shows that awe opens us to broader perspectives, stretching time itself, and quieting the relentless march of our minds. It doesn’t just expand our awareness; it connects us to something larger than our own anxieties, and our hurried days.​
​
​Awe doesn’t make life less heavy; it teaches us to marvel at the weight.
​​
Network neuroscience and positive psychology are catching up to what ancient wisdom has long whispered—these moments of awe trigger transformative brain states. They invite us to shift from ego-driven tunnel vision to expansive, mindful awareness. Keltner and Haidt showed us that awe can be a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. More recent studies, like one from 2021, highlight how awe reshapes our brains, enhancing our capacity for prosocial behavior and resilience against everyday stress. Awe, then, isn’t just a lofty ideal; it’s practical magic. #whensciencefeelslikemagic
​
​Incorporating awe into your daily routine can enrich your life and enhance your well-being. Here are some effective strategies to help you cultivate this powerful emotion:

1. Awe Walks

Take intentional walks in nature or your neighborhood. Look for details that typically go unnoticed—like the intricate patterns on leaves or the way sunlight filters through branches. Studies have shown that these awe walks can significantly reduce stress and increase feelings of gratitude and compassion.

2. Linger in Awe

When you encounter something awe-inspiring, resist the urge to rush away. Instead, take a moment to fully absorb the experience. Notice the physical sensations that accompany awe, such as goosebumps or a sense of wonder. This practice can deepen your emotional connection to the moment.
​
​3. Document Awe

Keep an awe journal where you record moments that inspire you. Reflect on past experiences that filled you with wonder and write about them in detail. This practice not only helps you remember these moments but also encourages you to seek out new awe-inspiring experiences.
​

But it’s a practice. Without a pinch of mindfulness, we may never notice. Awe requires presence—a slow unwinding of our senses, a willingness to be moved by what we usually overlook. (Have you ever noticed the way dusk makes shadows sprint across the sidewalk, or how a bird in flight seems to momentarily suspend gravity?) These small wonders are everywhere, but to catch them, you have to pause—no, splosh into them—and let them catch you, too.

Here’s the thing about awe: it doesn’t ask for perfection. You don’t have to climb a mountain or meditate for 22,223 hundred hours to feel it. You just need to stop—really stop—and take in the mundane miracle of the world swirling around you.

Because let’s be honest: life is full of quirks and detours. So, when the car won’t start, the to-do list grows like a weed, and your heart feels like it’s taken a nosedive off a cliff—yes, even then—try to remember awe is still there, just waiting for you to notice.

Awe softens us. It cracks open the hard parts and says, “Look. Just look.” And that act of looking, of seeing—there’s where the magic is. There’s where the shift begins. You are not alone in this; we’re all navigating the mess of it together, hearts a little tender, eyes a little brighter, trying to find our way back to wonder.

So, today, seek awe. Even in the small, ridiculous, delightful things. And let it remind you that you are part of something much, much bigger (eleventy hundred awes and wonders await your discovery).
​

​

If anything you’ve read here has been resonant, nourishing or of service to you in a meaningful way, please do, share this email series using your special link below. I appreciate your reciprocity.
​
Your unique referral link:

In sharing, you contribute to a bigger picture – a world pulsating with well-being and wholeness. I’m grateful for you!

Here are more ways I can support you.

• Feedback, love notes, and other inquiries? Just hit reply
• Want me to give a talk at your event or with your team? Workshops, consulting + speaking inquiries, apply here.​

…And remember, you’re pretty awe-some yourself 🙂