Rewiring Wonder
By Myra Goodman, originally published at Quest for Eternal Sunshine
I recently had a magical experience. While being guided through a 10-minute “Outdoor Refresher” mindfulness meditation, I was able to see with fresh eyes, and became completely enchanted by the world around me. It felt as if my senses had been reawakened, and my childlike awe rekindled. Remarkably, I still feel a positive shift two weeks later. It’s as if after many decades of neglect, some of my essential wiring has been dusted off and is coming back online—wiring that connects me to the innocence and openness of my inner child.
Myra’s niece, Nina Harmer, circa 2011
Remembering back to half a century ago, I can clearly recall myself as a young 8-year-old girl exploring a forest in upstate New York. I was barefoot and full of wonder as I discovered spotted orange salamanders hiding under rocks, inhaled the rich smells of the earth, felt the textured moss between my toes, and enjoyed the singing of birds, blissfully enthralled by the rustling of unknown creatures moving all around me.
Katie Dutcher, the mindfulness and meditation teacher who created the “Outdoor Refresher,” explains that with so much time spent indoors and in front of screens, it’s common for our senses to dim over time. But through mindfulness in nature practices, we can consciously invite them to reawaken, making everything seem more vivid, alive, and captivating.
According to Katie, “One of the elements that refreshes and restores us most when we go outside is the shift from ‘directed attention’—focusing closely on a screen or something else that requires the brain to do the fatiguing task of filtering out distractions—to a free-flowing, softer attention called ‘fascination attention.’ When we shift into fascination attention, we’re not trying to focus on anything in particular, we’re simply following whatever is catching our attention. Whether it’s a bird flying by, the bright color of a flower, or a breeze against our cheek, our attention is held without expending extra energy.” This shift into fascination attention relaxes and restores us, inside and out.
Katie asks us to imagine two different scenarios as we’re walking down a path. In the first scenario, we’re preoccupied. Maybe we’re talking on the phone or looking at a text. In the second scenario, our phone is at the bottom of our bag. We’re right where we are, paying attention to the beauty of our surroundings, feeling open, receptive, and curious. “If you embrace the second scenario,” Katie says, “You will likely experience more relaxation, joy and wonder—positive emotions that help you flourish, even in the midst of troubling times. Being fully present outdoors is one of the most powerful and accessible ways to feed our spirit and build resilience.”
I’ve been so grateful to Katie for helping me regain a more powerful connection to nature. I’ve already begun to linger longer when I walk my dogs, pay more attention when I chop my veggies, and spend more time sitting outside just to gaze around in wonder. And next time I’m babysitting for my grandsons as they play outside with the soil, rocks, weeds and insects, instead of just keeping my eye on them, I plan to join in the fun!
Enjoy Katie’s 10-minute “Outdoor Refresher” mindfulness meditation in Spirituality & Health magazine
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