Wild Wolf pack. Fifty yards away. Howling. 15 sec video below (volume up)

My spirit was busted open. The vibration of that sacred communication rolled across the valley floor and into my bones. For a moment, everything went still. My thoughts dissolved, breath slowed, and I was struck with a deep feeling in my body, awe.

This was Day 3 in Yellowstone with a coaching client. The first two days had been beautiful, bison herds, thermal features, and open valleys.

We hiked, talked, ate, sat in silence and did some deep work. But this afternoon, standing in the Valley as those wolves called to each other across the vast wilderness, something fundamentally shifted.

Psychologists describe awe as the state when something vast forces us to expand our understanding of the /our world. Standing there, surrounded by silence and sound, I felt that truth in real time, smaller, quieter, and more connected than I've felt in a while.

*all videos and photos taken by me

The Importance of "Awe" States

Moments when we encounter something vast that challenges our understanding can change how our brains work and how we see the world.

The default mode network, responsible for self-focused thinking, temporarily shuts down. We stop ruminating and instead reconnect.

Psychologist Dacher Keltner found that awe shrinks the ego while expanding perspective. It's not just a nice feeling; it's a mental reset that increases life satisfaction, reduces stress, and enhances our sense of meaning. It's what you might have experienced as "feeling small." I certainly did in that valley.

Psychological richness is different from happiness or comfort. It's about the depth and variety of experiences that shape who we are. A rich life includes moments that disrupt routine, challenge perception, and create lasting memories. When combined with awe, it can significantly increase your sense of well-being.

This is exactly why I'm here in Yellowstone this week. Not to check boxes or accomplish crazy hikes, but to step into vastness and let it do its work. To practice slowing down in a place that demands presence.

It's tough to put into words, but when you remove the noise, the cell signal, and the need to be anywhere... when you stand in front of something so vast you don't need to understand it... something shifts.

Have you experienced that?

Let me know.

Building Awe Into Your Life

Bison Far Away

Bison Close Up

Intentionally creating space for vastness so you can allow your perspectives to shift and your world to open up to new possibilities for growth. OFFENSE BABY!

Daily:

Spend 10 minutes outside without your phone. Watch the sky change.

Weekly:

Choose one activity that gets you into open space, a hike, a park, water. Somewhere the horizon stretches.

Monthly:

Take a half-day or full-day trip to somewhere that makes you feel small. Mountains, ocean, desert, forest.

Quarterly:

Plan a weekend away from your normal context. Somewhere with dark skies, big views, or unfamiliar terrain.

Yearly:

Commit to one significant trip focused on immersion, not documentation. Create a minimal itinerary that prioritizes presence over productivity.

Yellowstone, thank you for keeping me safe and reminding me what wild still feels like.

Please feel free to respond to this email with your thoughts, ideas, or questions. I'd love to speak with you.

With heart,
Mike