How a Bit of Awe Can Improve Your LIFE
- Aug 23
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 17
Guest Post by Kristina Marie - Team Helena is a group of moms, content creators and artists from all around the world who write about wellness and celebrate the abject necessity of art every day.
Awe can mean many things. It can be witnessing a total solar eclipse. Or seeing your child take their first steps. Or hearing an amazing musician perform live. But, while many of us know it when we feel it, awe is not easy to define.
“Awe is the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world,” said Dacher Keltner, a psychologist at the University of California, Berkeley.
It’s vast, yes. But awe is also simpler than we think — and accessible to everyone, he writes in his book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.” I write this after having been inspired by people like Helena. Awe comes naturally to her.
While many of us associate awe with dramatic, life-changing events, the truth is that awe can be part of everyday life.
Experiencing awe comes from what Dr. Keltner has called a “perceived vastness,” as well as something that challenges us to rethink our previously held ideas. Awe can be triggered from moments like seeing the Grand Canyon or witnessing an act of kindness.
Awe is a complex emotion that plays a significant role in human experience and evolution.
Those who experience awe-inspiring moments can reap lasting positive effects on their development, well-being, and overall quality of life.
Awe can stimulate creativity, enhance emotional well-being, and foster a sense of humility and altruism in every person, no matter the background.
"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom." —Socrates
Life is a magical time filled with new experiences, vivid imaginings, and a sense of wonder that seems to fade as we grow older. One powerful emotion encapsulating our existence-- our essence-- is awe! That feeling of amazement, reverence, and wonder in the face of something larger or more powerful than ourselves. The experience of awe can profoundly impact our mindset and well-being, and it is essential to recognize and foster this emotion in our lives.
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