Happy Monday!
When was the last time you experienced awe or wonder? Both are experiences that most of us may not be great at prioritizing in our everyday lives — but we should.
For example, research shows that experiencing awe is important for our well-being and mental health. Even little moments of awe or wonder can help us feel energized, renewed, and inspired.
There are so many ways to do this — from going on a hike, listening to beautiful music, reading an inspiring story, spending time with people who energize you, or experiencing flow in your favorite hobby. When in doubt, get out in nature, since nature is almost guaranteed to produce some awe.
Keep in mind that these experiences will be different for everyone, so it’s important that you start looking for things that make you feel fully alive and fully present in the moment.
What I’m reading (article) —
Gawking in Awe at the Universe, Together by Shannon Stirone / The New York Times
Speaking of awe and wonder, I’m not alone in feeling awe toward the universe this week. The images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope are mindblowingly beautiful. This article sums up how I — and so many others — felt when seeing them this week.
“When we look up, we look for ourselves. Dr. Sagan once said, ‘We are a way for the cosmos to know itself,’ and that could not be more true. We long to understand why we’re here and to find meaning in a world where meaning is so often difficult to divine. Telescopes like this remind us that in spite of our specific challenges on Earth, the possibility of connection still exists.”
What I’m reading (book) —
Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing by Pete Davis
We have so many options these days — from career choices, to dating profiles, to hobbies to explore — many people don’t commit to anything at all. Davis argues that this “infinite browsing mode” keeps us from experiencing the purpose, community, and depth only deep commitments can offer. As a former non-committer myself, I really resonated with much of this book.
A quote that inspires me —
“The most successful people in life recognize that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.” — Neil deGrasse Tyson
What I’m training —
Keeping your wrists healthy, flexible, and strong is important if you want to work on handstands or any other exercise requiring your palms to be flat against the floor. Here is a wrist warm-up routine I swear by to build strength and flexibility.
Three new workouts —
Super Strength Kettlebell Workout (12-minute, kettlebell)
Legs + Core Plyo Box Workout (12-minute, plyo box or equivalent)
225 Rep Strength + Conditioning Home Workout (Time challenge, kettlebell, medicine ball)
You can get these and all future workouts right in the 12 Minute Athlete app when you subscribe as a Super Athlete.
Questions? Feedback? Content requests?
Please feel free to reply directly to this email if you have any questions or comments (yes, I am a real human). I get a lot of emails and messages, so I can’t reply to all of them, but I do read everything you guys send me!
Dream bigger,
– Krista