When Even the Moon Feels Boring

Apr 13

When was the last time you said a genuine, happy “wow”? Not a polite one. A real one.

We crave that wow feeling and experiences that leave us thinking: that was amazing.

Because “meh” is quietly devastating.

How was the steak? Meh.
The show? Meh.
The date? Meh.

“Mediocre” is forgettable. And forgettable might be worse than bad. So, we try to choose better books, better meals, better performances, and better companies to work for.

It may seem obvious that some experiences are inherently “wow-worthy”: Going to space or climbing Everest.

While others clearly aren’t: A doctor’s visit. A fish market.

But this assumption doesn’t hold up. There is research that shows that people can walk out of doctors' offices saying “wow.” And if you’ve seen the flying fish at Seattle’s Pike Place Market, you know a fish market can absolutely deliver.

Then there’s astronaut Frank Borman. In his interview for This American Life podcast some years back, he described his experience like this:
Weightlessness? Not that exciting.
Being in space? Mostly boring.
The Moon? Just different shades of grey.

Now compare that to astronauts on Artemis II, who describe the journey as extraordinary. Same destination, very different experience.

So, what actually contributes to “wow”?

1. Expectations
High expectations can make even extraordinary moments feel underwhelming if reality does not match our mental picture. No expectations can make you underappreciate the magnitude of the experience. (I almost left Australia without petting a koala, and that would have been a mistake!)
Have a soft vision; this allows you to register what is actually happening without forcing it into what you thought should happen.

2. Focus
You can be wowed by the destination. Or by the journey. People can miss one while chasing the other.

3. Alignment
If something doesn’t matter to you, it won’t wow you. Alignment intensifies the experience. You’re not just reacting to what happened; you’re reacting to how well it matches what matters to you.

So don’t be surprised when someone walks away from a “dream job.” Or when your child is not wowed by a Michelin restaurant.

“Wow” is not inherently built into the experience itself. It’s built into the way you meet it.

Arrive mindfully.
Have a soft vision.
Choose what you want to focus on.
Know what matters.

Please share this with someone who may need more “wow.”And if that someone is you, please reach out; let's see what we can do about it.
***

With gratitude,

Alina
Dr. Alina Bas, PCC
Executive Coach & Strategist
Adjunct Professor, NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science
https://AlinaBas.com/schedule
Alina@AlinaBas.com

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