Monday Mindset
The importance of awe
It’s the last week of October already! I don’t know about you, but time is flying over here in my neck of the woods. The trees are looking more bare, the weather has turned cooler, and I am thinking about all the things I need to get done before winter hits (which in Minnesota could happen anytime). Even among all the to-dos and busyness, I am still committed to cultivating curiosity in my life.
On the last week of this month’s theme, we are going to explore my favorite intention yet:
The Importance of Awe
“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder, and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.”
Albert Einstein
Picture this: you’re on a beach in a beautiful place just before dawn. As the sun rises over the waves, you watch as the world comes to life in vivid color around you. Pinks and oranges turn to yellows as the blue of the sky reflects on the water. A pod of whales is off shore, and you can see their spray from where you sit. All is quiet except for the waves and sounds of the world waking up. You feel a keen sense of rapture and being engulfed in the moment. Your heart expands, your mind is clear, and you feel overwhelmed by gratitude in the moment.
This is one experience of awe.
Awe is deeply personal, and it is an emotional response to something that is beyond us. It causes us to expand our understanding, feel a deeper connection with the world and others, and it can also help us cultivate a more grounded sense of being.
Dr Dacher Keltner, scientist and author of Awe: The New Science of Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, explains that awe is experienced in the presence of something vast and mysterious—something that goes beyond our current understanding of the world.
Awe takes us outside of ourselves, reducing the focus on self. This helps us get perspective. Getting out of our heads can help us build stronger internal resources by recognizing the vast beauty and connections around us. Our isolated experiences are put in their place, and we feel the gravity of the present moment.
Moments of awe can come from seeing a spectacular view, but it can also happen in witnessing a heroic act, or having a spiritual experience. The most common sense of awe seems to come from other people (as found in Dr. Keltner’s research). Overcoming obstacles, saving people’s lives, and other acts of inspiring connection cause us to respond with awe. Have you ever cried while watching a video of a surprisingly kind interaction? If you’ve been moved in this way, count yourself awed. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things is powerful!
Awe isn’t just a good feeling. Studies show that it has health benefits. Increased oxytocin, lower inflammation, and elevated mood all point to awe being good for our mental and physical wellbeing.
It can also give us a stronger sense of meaning. A strong sense of purpose is important to our quality of life, as well as our inner connection. It can make us feel more grounded in the present, as well as more connected to others and the world we live in. The benefits don’t end there. Studies show that awe can also make us more kind and generous.
Now that we know the effects of awe, how do we go about experiencing it more often?
Some ways to create space for awe:
Watch someone do something you find remarkable (musicians, sculptors, rock climbers, etc.).
Listen to new music, as music can provoke strong mental and physical responses (playlists based off of music you already like are a good place to start).
Get into nature and notice what is around you – look at details, pay attention to what you see, smell, hear, and feel. Involve your senses!
Ask others what makes them experience awe.
Learn a new concept. Trying to understand something new to you can invoke a sense of awe (quantum physics, deep space, how trees connect and serve each other in a forest—the sky’s the limit!).
When we allow curiosity to lead us, pulling at our attention, we are likely to find moments of awe when our experience is overwhelmed by the realization that there is much more at work than our limited experience would suggest.
Importantly, we won’t embrace these moments of awe if we are not paying attention. Letting our curiosity keep us open, learning, and seeing the bigger picture, we are more likely to experience moments of awe as our minds and hearts respond to what we notice. Increased awareness is a beautiful way to elevate our chances of experiencing awe on a regular basis.
Are there distractions that keep you from being engaged with the world around you?
How can you make more room for your attention to flow in the present?
Journal about a time you experienced awe. Where were you? Who were you with? What did you feel?
Bonus: As you go about your week, pay attention to your senses, and allow your focus to be drawn by curiosity toward the things around you that capture your attention. Be sure to unplug from technology to allow for more room to experience moments of awe.
As you let your awareness increase with curiosity and follow the nudges that pull at your attention, I hope you will find at least one moment of awe this week.
If you do, please share it with someone, even if it’s to respond to this email or jump into the comment section.
Love this , I need to find some awe in my life. I’m going to be more aware tomorrow and look around. Thank you 🙏🏼
I read Dacher's book a year or two ago and loved it! 😊