“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”  - Plato

Plato wasn’t just talking about each of us having different perspectives. He was referencing our ability to see the inner beauty of the world around us. He was imploring us to activate our senses and fill our soul with wonderment.

A few years ago, I had an experience that changed my life. Prior to it, I thought I lived by Plato’s guidance. I thought I knew beauty and beauty knew me. I was wrong.

I was too self absorbed to understand the unlimited possibilities that come with wonderment. Occasionally, I ventured to the deep end. Mostly, I swam safely in the kiddie pool.

One day, something magical happened.  I was in a conference and a beautiful attractive athletic woman walked through the door. Her energy field was magnetic. I was drawn into her vortex. What happened next is so out of my personality I still can’t explain it.

I jumped out of my chair and went over to talk to her. The blood was pumping through my veins. She was strong, confident, out going, and athletic. She was perfect. I could have spent the rest of the day standing in the middle of the room listening to her stories.

Luckily, the conference was about to start and we had to return to our seats. I’m not sure if I would have been able to drag myself away without an excuse. As I returned to my seat, I asked myself what the hell just happened. Did I really just get up and run across the room to talk to someone I did not know? I am a happily married man. What am I doing? I was dazed and confused.

The conference began and I turned my attention to the subject at hand. I tried to distract my thoughts, but I couldn’t. I glance over to where she was siting. To my surprise, I did not see the same beautiful attractive athletic woman. Instead, I saw an uninspiring lonely woman 100lbs over weight sitting all by her self. She was part of the scenery, not the scenery.

I was no longer dazed and confused. I had clearly seen her inner beauty. I had a soul connection with a total stranger and we were one for that moment in time.

I was given a tremendous gift, the ability to recognize beauty in everything around me. I’ve spent the days since that moment curiously searching for inner beauty in others and myself.  I truly live in a state of wonderment. 

How do you cultivate curiosity in your life?