I write a biweekly column called ‘Life is Mysterious’ for The Greenville Sun. It’s all about the miracles, big and small, that I encounter in everyday life. Sometimes people ask me, “Ella, how can I attract more miracles?”
I don’t have a foolproof method for producing miracles (I wish!). But there are some things you can do to be more open to the miracles all around you.
Here are my five steps for seeking out the wondrous in life.
Step 1: Stay Connected
We are all connected and it is the connections you make with people that facilitate the mystery. Being open to making new friendships gives you a bigger circle of people to allow God to work through. So go ahead. Talk to the cashier at the checkout counter, strike up a conversation with the person in front of you at the DMV, buy a coffee for a stranger. You never know what it might lead to.
Step 2: Forget About Outcomes
The more attached you are to the way you think things should be, the more disappointed you’ll be if things don’t work out the way you expect. Imagine for a minute that you’ve been invited to someone’s house for a steak dinner. When you get there, you discover the hosts decided to serve meatloaf instead. You’d probably be disappointed. Meatloaf is great, but it’s no steak, after all.
Now imagine that same dinner invitation, except this time the hosts didn’t tell you what they were serving. Even if you didn’t like meatloaf, you’d probably be touched—instead of disappointed—that they made something from scratch just for you. It’s the same with life. Try not to put too much stress on outcomes and just enjoy life for the miracle it is.
Step 3: Keep Your Eyes Open
Once you’ve mastered the art of not being attached to a certain set of desired outcomes, you’re free to see clearly the miracles happening right before your eyes. Keep your eyes and your heart open to receiving them. Take a walk in nature, let yourself laugh hysterically at a good joke, enjoy the beauty in a sunset and the mere fact that you’re alive. Sometimes those who say miracles never happen to them just don’t know how to keep their eyes open to the right things. But if you seek out the miracles in life, you’ll find them lurking all around.
Step 4: Live in Gratitude
People talk about it all the time, but what does it actually mean to live in gratitude? For me, it’s a running list that I keep in the back of my mind. An inner voice that quietly reminds me of how blessed I am. Even when things go wrong, I’m always searching for silver linings. And you know what? I almost always find them.
Step 5: Be the Miracle
Last, but not least, be someone’s miracle. Sometimes all it takes to brighten someone’s day is a smile or holding open the door. Spread a little cheer and wonder in the world, then wait and see the wonders that come back to you as a result.
