Beautiful Awareness!

There is incredible blessing when we begin to see life in new ways! To see a new sight of an illustrious mountain or stunning shore, to hear a new piece of music or sound that stirs the soul, to have a new texture that both invigorates the warmth of the skin or sends a tingling in the spine that leaves you wanting more. Or perhaps a well balanced bite with rich tones of crisp yet deep flavors, or the smell of flowers or clean air after a crisp rain or grass freshly mowed. We can find so many new things which are a deep need in our being. At the very core of ourselves, we have a need to encounter connection and beauty. At some point, these experiences that shaped us are all part of our transformation. These experiences helped us begin to see beauty. This is far more than pleasure, it is much deeper than a trite feeling, because we did not just do this alone. As a child, when we were small. Someone else came around us and helped us experience this: a parent, family member, or even a coach, teacher, or caretaker. What made it joyful was not just the experience alone, but the sharing with another. The senses are for more than just pleasure alone, they are for connection. Awareness is always a self discovery but is often in the context of others. The discovery of these new sensations or experiences is where new thoughts, new mindsets, new moments of imagination can inspire us to step deeper into ourselves and our design. One of the best things about becoming aware is learning how you are the same and yet, different from the people around you. This joy and understanding is what makes us unique. Because you can have the same environment and yet when the discussion begins of the experiences impact on you, you quickly find that perspective makes all the difference in the encounter and begin to appreciate your own and the others perspective. Awareness of self and others is the power that can cultivate community. Knowing when someone else is in the room that their perspective will be different. Transformation rarely happens alone. For real transformation to happen, we must have experiences that shift our perspective. And within that both chaos and beauty can be an agent for change in our souls. However, healing and change come from interacting with beauty. Beauty helps us reorder our souls to integrate and make it full. To allow our head and heart to work in tandem. Interconnected. Full of deep thought and rich emotion. Beauty is of the utmost importance if you desire to encounter beauty, to be able to see it, find it, make it, cultivate it, discover it, care for it. There needs to be a commitment to growing in awareness. To cultivate it, steward it, see it as the thing that awakens the senses to encounter Beauty more often. Change comes from encountering, and deeper encounters come from awareness. And, awareness only grows when cultivated. Encountering beauty will change you. Whether it be the massive mountains, the incredible sound of a rocket, the roaring seas, or the simplicity of a father lovingly correcting their child, or a kind eyed smile from a stranger. A widow grieving yet hopeful for the future knowing God still has more for her. The treasure of a baby crying despite the stress it causes. Or the sip of your favorite drink, the sound of a symphony, or that childhood song that awakens long lost emotions. Beauty is all around us, and the invitation is to go hunting for it, finding it, and name it in our lives. When this awareness is cultivated you will see that beauty is everywhere. Now! Go find it! Nourish your soul! Fill your cup! Discover the beauty that is all around you and let it transform you into something better, something fuller, but don't forget to share it along the way! Happy beauty hunting! Please, share your findings below!