When was the last time you felt a sense of deep wonder and connection to the people and world around you? Perhaps you were gazing at a star-filled sky, feeling the electric energy of a crowd, or observing the gradual changes of a garden. These are experiences of awe–and awe can have many positive effects on your mind, mood, and body.
While the concept of awe isn’t new, there’s an increased understanding of its impact. Recent studies point to the benefits of awe for overall well-being, and especially for mental and emotional well-being. What is awe? Awe is known as a transcendent emotional experience that fosters a sense of vastness and shifts focus from the self to something larger than one’s self. This something larger might be a spiritual connection, a connection to nature, or other systems or communities in the world.
Awe is described as “the emotion we experience when we encounter vast mysteries that we don’t understand,” by researcher Dacher Keltner in his book "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." It might be a moment that causes goosebumps or tears, an “aha” or wonder, or joy, or even an OMG!
“Awe can be found anywhere, and it invites emotions such as joy, amazement, and compassion,” says Kelcey Stratton, chief behavioral health strategist. “The capacity to experience awe can also be practiced and enhanced, which can start by bringing your full attention to meaningful experiences and seeking out opportunities to notice the wonder and interconnectedness in everyday life.”
Many different environments can support cultivation of feelings such as awe and transcendence. Awe-inspiring experiences may happen through engagement with the arts, patient care interactions, research discoveries, or athletic events. We might think of awe-filled moments as big ones relating to big human experiences like birth, death, and other high-intensity times.
Yet everyday experiences of awe can be powerful moments for learning and reflection. In particular, contact with nature can evoke related positive transcendent emotions like curiosity, wonder, questioning, admiration, gratitude and spiritual connection. You might consider observing clouds in the sky, bird songs or flight patterns, a sunrise or sunset. In the interpersonal realm, immersing in an impactful conversation or observing acts of kindness, help, or love provide opportunities for connecting with awe.
So consider going on an “awe adventure” or check out some of the resources below to pause and marvel at the world around you.
5 AWE-some Tips and Resources
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Try out this 15-minute guided Awe Outing through the Greater Good Science Center which includes tips for natural, indoor, and urban awe adventures.
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Keep an awe journal or photo collection to document and reflect on big and little moments of awe in everyday experiences.
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Consider a team icebreaker in which people are invited to talk about a work moment or connection that provided a sense of awe or moved them.
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Nature Rx App at U-M: Use the app to take a nature break around the Ann Arbor campus, or use these helpful nature break tips to pause anytime, anywhere. Can’t get away? Check out the Nature Rx gallery of images for moments of awe.
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Read more about the positive impact of awe:
