The Extraordinary Beauty of the Ordinary
We live in a world that constantly stimulates us with new experiences, new technologies, and new emotions. Yet, there is an extraordinary beauty in the ordinary—one we often overlook. Learning to appreciate the everyday is the first step toward a truly “full” life, one that isn’t measured by extraordinary moments but is instead built on a deep awareness of each passing instant.
The Everyday and the Illusion of Control
The everyday can often seem dull or uninspiring. The endless “scrolling” on our smartphones gives us the illusion of control, the sense that we are steering our attention, shielding ourselves from restlessness. But what is truly real in this rush of dopamine? This fleeting sense of power offers a false sense of security, an illusion of control that blinds us to the richness of the present moment—the here and now, embedded in daily life. Breaking free from this trap requires a conscious effort, one that may take some work but also calls for great courage.
Meditation and the Magic of the Everyday
Take meditation, for example. Through this practice, we learn to be present with our senses, emotions, and thoughts. We begin to see the extraordinary in the ordinary—the beauty of a single breath, the ever-changing flow of emotions, the miracle of being fully present in the complexity of the world around us. Meditation teaches us not to escape the “noise” of the mind but to embrace the wonder of simply being. This gentle yet realistic approach reminds us that every moment is an opportunity for practice, a chance to be fully aware.
The Flow of Consciousness: Being Present
The flow of consciousness is our ability to be fully immersed in experience, to feel every emotion, every physical sensation, every thought as it arises. Awareness of this flow allows us to recognize the profound beauty of simply existing, of being alive in each moment. It’s like a river in motion—nothing is ever truly mundane, only a continuous transformation that invites us to stay present with openness and curiosity.
Living Each Moment with Awareness
Every experience we live is our life. If we approach the ordinary with conscious awareness, even the simplest moments can become opportunities for growth. This means not waiting for a grand event to feel alive but understanding that every moment, no matter how ordinary, has intrinsic value. Life unfolds in the everyday, and only through practicing awareness can we fully grasp its richness.
The Three Pairs of Verbs That Make the Difference
To rediscover the ordinary as a creative stimulus, we can train certain abilities. Observing and Discovering the world around us allow us to recognize beauty in the details. Embracing and Giving Back help us transform every experience into something positive. Being and Learning teach us patience and the ability to evolve, never seeing the ordinary as trivial or irrelevant.
Daring in the Ordinary: Finding Wonder in the Everyday
Daring in the ordinary means being amazed, learning to see beauty in what we typically consider predictable or boring. We can be surprised by a situation that annoys us, handling it with kindness, courage, and confidence. Surprising ourselves by being in the right place at the right time, or by accomplishing something we never thought we could. Every moment of the ordinary can become an opportunity to discover and unleash our potential, as if it were our greatest masterpiece.
The Trap of “Taking Things for Granted”
The temptation to take what we have for granted is one of the main traps that prevents us from seeing the extraordinary in the everyday. Appreciating what’s already present in our lives trains us to embrace and “uncover” the beauty that each day offers. Often, it’s the absence that helps us understand this, making us realize what we’re losing or have lost. So why wait to lose it? Let’s start training ourselves now to free ourselves from that fog that causes us to take things for granted.
Gratitude: The Key to Transforming the Ordinary into the Extraordinary
The first step in freeing ourselves from the fog of “taking things for granted” and transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary is developing a practice of gratitude. When we recognize the value of what we have, without always expecting something bigger, we begin to discover the abundance that surrounds us. Gratitude pushes us to see beauty even in the simplest things, igniting new energy in our experiences. It’s a fundamental practice to bring gratitude into the things we consider “minor,” too.
The Novelty Bias: Why the Ordinary Holds Deeper Value
We are often drawn to novelty, convinced that what’s new is automatically better. Yet, novelty is fleeting: it quickly fades, leaving us empty. The ordinary, however, is an infinite resource. It never runs out and can be a constant source of wonder if we only learn to approach it with curiosity and awareness.
The Path of the Ordinary: Rediscovering the Senses and the Meaning
The ordinary is the path through which we can reconnect deeply with our senses and the meaning of life. We never step into the same river twice, and every daily experience holds a mystery to discover, an invitation to engage with curiosity. Even boredom, when we explore it attentively, reveals much about ourselves. It helps us understand who we are, what we’re searching for, and what we can afford to feel.
Conclusion: Awe and Wonder in the OrdinaryThe inner dialogue born from awareness, surprise, and curiosity is what leads us to wonder. Every moment, every breath, every ordinary sensation is an opportunity for awe. Only when we learn to see the extraordinary in the ordinary are we truly free to live fully. We give ourselves permission to go beyond, surpass ourselves, and welcome the “extraordinary.” In my experience as a coach, I’ve learned that savoring the ordinary frees us from mirages and illusions, allowing us to act in the real world to achieve our dreams, starting from what we truly are and have, and steering us toward that horizon that leads us to go “beyond,” to be extraordinary people and do extraordinary things.
