Stoic philosophy, and some personal development, revolves around the idea of memento mori—the practice of remembering that we will die. While this can be a powerful reminder to make the most of our days, what if we flipped the perspective? Instead of seeing life through the lens of its eventual end, what if we lived each day as if it were our very first? What if we approached life not with the weight of inevitability but with the lightness of awe, wonder, and fearless curiosity?
Imagine waking up tomorrow with no assumptions about the world. Imagine tasting your coffee as if it were your first time. Feeling the texture of your clothes, really listening to music, truly seeing the sky. Imagine stepping into the day with a sense of adventure, curiosity, and openness.
That’s the magic of living as if every day were your first. Not weighed down by past burdens, not paralyzed by the unknown—just here, now, fully alive, filled with awe and wonder.
Dacher Keltner, a leading researcher in the field of positive psychology and the science of awe, suggests that experiencing awe is essential to our well-being. In his book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, Keltner describes awe as a feeling of vastness that challenges and expands our understanding of the world. Awe makes us feel small, but not in a diminished way—rather, in a way that connects us to something greater than ourselves.
How can we live into this way of experiencing the world?
Cultivate a beginners mindset: When we cultivate a beginner’s mind—an idea rooted in mindfulness—we invite the possibility of awe into our daily lives. A beginner’s mind means looking at the world as if we were seeing it for the first time, with no preconceptions or automatic judgments. Children do this naturally. Everything is new, exciting, and filled with potential. But as we age, we begin to label, categorize, and assume we already know—which, in turn, dulls our sense of wonder.
Live into your fears: Fearlessness does not mean the absence of fear. It means moving forward despite it. When we embrace life as if it were our first day, we release the fears that are tied to past experiences or anxieties about the future. We live in the present.
Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness, a practice deeply studied and recommended by Keltner and other psychologists, helps us stay anchored in this state. When we practice mindfulness, we stop ruminating about past regrets or future worries. We engage fully with this moment, allowing ourselves to be swept up in its richness. This naturally fosters a sense of fearlessness—because fear often arises from dwelling on what might happen rather than engaging with what is happening.
I invite you to embrace this reframe and open your heart and mind to the wonder and awe that surrounds you. Experience The Good Life!
Sign up today and begin to experience The Good Life: https://wbhi-courses.teachable.com/p/the-good-life
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