When was the last time you felt truly awestruck? Maybe it was a crimson sunset stretching across the sky, the hush of a forest at dawn, or hearing a piece of music so powerful it gave you chills. In those fleeting, spine-tingling moments, we step outside ourselves—and something inside us shifts.
This feeling is awe. And though we may not talk about it often, awe is essential to the human experience.
What Is Awe, Really?
Awe is more than just admiration or surprise. Psychologists define it as the emotion we feel when we encounter something vast or extraordinary that challenges the way we see the world. It might come from nature, art, spirituality, acts of kindness, or even profound ideas.
Crucially, awe pulls us out of our narrow self-focus and places us in the context of something larger. It can be humbling—but in the best way. It reminds us that we’re part of a grand, interconnected story.
And in today’s busy, hyper-connected, endlessly scheduled world, that reminder may be more important than ever.
The Science of Awe
Research shows that awe doesn’t just feel good—it does good.
A 2015 study by the Greater Good Science Center found that people who experienced awe were more generous, more ethical, and more connected to others. Other studies have shown that awe can reduce inflammation, quiet the ego, and even slow down our perception of time.
Why? Because awe shifts our focus away from ourselves. It calms the internal chatter, broadens our perspective, and activates a sense of wonder that’s deeply grounding.
In a time when stress, distraction, and burnout are high, awe offers a reset. It reconnects us with beauty, mystery, and meaning.
Why We’ve Lost Touch With Awe
Modern life doesn’t naturally lend itself to awe. We’re constantly moving, multi-tasking, and chasing productivity. Screens dominate our attention. Convenience often replaces curiosity. And wonder? That gets saved for special occasions—if at all.
But awe doesn’t need to be rare or grand. It just needs our attention.
How to Rediscover Awe in Daily Life
You don’t have to scale a mountain or witness a solar eclipse to experience awe. Here’s how you can invite it back:
- Step outside. Nature is one of the most reliable sources of awe. Look up at the stars. Watch the wind move through trees. Notice the tiny details in a flower or leaf.
- Seek beauty. Visit an art gallery. Listen to live music. Read poetry. Let creativity move you.
- Be present. Awe often slips in when we slow down enough to notice the extraordinary in the ordinary.
- Ask big questions. Explore science, faith, or philosophy. Wonder fuels awe.
- Spend time with children. Their fresh eyes and boundless curiosity are a daily lesson in wonder.
Awe Is a Human Need
Awe reminds us that life is not just a to-do list. It’s an unfolding story filled with marvels, mysteries, and moments that can stop us in our tracks—if we let them.
In rediscovering awe, we don’t escape life—we return to it more fully. More open. More connected. More alive.
And in a world that often feels overwhelming, awe is not just a luxury—it’s a lifeline.