Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by an incredible sunset or gazed in wonder at the vastness of a starry night sky? Or maybe you’ve got lost in an incredible piece of art or the words of an inspiring speaker?
All of these are examples of feeling awe, and according to scientists, this powerful emotion is essential to happiness. The good news is that opportunities to experience awe are all around us – from witnessing the beauty of nature to listening to great music.
Below, we’ll cover exactly what awe is and suggest eight ways to experience it in everyday life.
“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.”
What is awe?
Awe is a complex, elusive, and little-understood emotion. It’s largely considered psychological, but it can also cause physical reactions – such as goosebumps, shivers, and changes in heart rate.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines awe as “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder”. While Dr Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s leading emotion scientists, describes it as the feeling of being in the presence of something vast and mysterious that goes beyond our current understanding of the world.
We can experience awe in response to a country walk, other people’s kindness, an impressive building, or even when watching fascinating YouTube videos. And then there are the rarer, ‘bucket list’ type experiences of awe – such as singing with thousands of fans at a football match or seeing the Northern Lights.
In Dr Keltner’s book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life*, he proposes that experiencing awe can transform our health and wellbeing — just like joy, contentment, and love – and help us find greater meaning in our lives.
Other research has revealed that feeling awe-struck, even for five minutes, can boost our immune system, slow our heart rate, calm our nervous system, and even reduce pain. Awe can also act as a form of mindfulness, helping us to focus on the present moment.
What’s more, research suggests that experiencing awe can slow down our perception of time, and may make us less materialistic, more humble, and more likely to volunteer to help others.
With so many benefits, it makes sense to try to cultivate a sense of awe. So, here are eight ways to help you experience it in everyday life.
8 ways to experience awe in everyday life
1. Admire the greatness of others
Do you tear up when seeing the heroic rescue of a child from the rubble of an earthquake on TV? Feel touched by witnessing someone giving food to a homeless person on the street? Or experience admiration as you watch athletes compete in the Paralympics?
Most of us find the kindness, resilience, courage, and perseverance of others awe-inspiring. Therefore, actively seeking out inspiring stories in the news or through books, poetry, film, and art can help us feel awe more often. Paying close attention to the people around us and reflecting on those who have moved us in some way can also inspire awe.
For example, can you think of a mentor whose courage or kindness stayed with you? Or try to notice and appreciate small gestures of goodwill and kindness around you, like someone guiding a less able person across the street.
Studies have found that watching videos of inspiring people, such as Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa, can evoke awe, too. You can also stimulate awe by reading biographies of people who move you and displaying inspirational quotes from them.
2. Engage in shared experiences
You may have been awe-struck when cheering for a sports team, at worship or a music concert, or on the dance floor – and what links these experiences is that we do them with others.
The intense positive shared feeling that emerges when you join in synchronised movement at events like demonstrations, social rituals, ceremonies, or celebrations is known as ‘collective effervescence’. These events emphasise our emotional connection with others.
So, the more experiences like these that we can get involved in, the better when it comes to inspiring awe. For example, you could join a dance class or choir, do a park run, or take up volunteering.
According to Dr Keltner, humans have survived as a species thanks to our ability to cooperate, form communities, and create culture – all of which strengthen our sense of shared identity. He says that this capacity to meet our basic needs socially is sparked and spurred on by awe – because it increases the feeling that we’re part of a greater whole.
3. Make time for nature
Awe is often inspired by the natural world – such as rainbows, starry skies, impressive trees, or incredible animals. And studies suggest that awe might be an important ingredient in nature’s restorative powers.
For example, research has found that people who gazed in awe at eucalyptus trees felt less superior to others, and were more likely to help those in need – which supports the idea that awe fosters humility and concern for others. Another study found that visitors to the magnificent Yosemite National Park felt humbled by the experience.
So why not tap into your sense of wonder at nature and take an ‘awe walk’? This involves focusing on your surroundings and intentionally seeking out details that inspire a sense of wonder.
It helps to go somewhere new – where the sights, sounds, and smells are unexpected. But, where you walk is less important than your perception, so you could try approaching your daily dog walk or walk to work with fresh eyes. By taking in regular surroundings as if for the first time, you’re more likely to see things like a bird singing, the colour of the sky, or the tallness of the trees, as something extraordinary.
Or why not experience the awe of nature from home with this specially-created video of Yosemite National Park? This clip of a coloured droplet falling into a pool of milk in slow motion may have a similar effect.
For more ideas, take a look at our article: 32 ways to connect with nature and feel inspired.
4. Listen to music
We’ve been listening to and making music with others since ancient times, and we find meaning in its patterns – so much so that listening to certain pieces can send shivers down our spine or give us goosebumps (two symptoms of awe and wonder). And, as music is everywhere, it’s an easy way to experience it in everyday life.
Almost all of us can find time in our day to listen to music that moves or inspires us. And as awe is often evoked by the unexpected, why not experiment by exposing yourself to music you haven’t heard before?
For inspiration, check out our articles: 10 of the best Spotify playlists for every mood and How to get involved with music from home. Or, why not browse upcoming music events on Rest Less Events?
5. Dive into art and culture
There are opportunities all around us to experience awe through culture. For example, you can wander around an art gallery looking for incredible paintings or sculptures. Or take in the design of your town or city – even the most unassuming buildings have the power to stir powerful emotions. Likewise, lots of us are awe-struck while reading inspiring poetry or novels, or watching great movies and TV shows.
The benefits of awe-inspiring art are backed up by science, too. According to Dr Keltner, one study found that children who felt awe in an art museum were kinder to others and less self-focused.
Meanwhile, another study showed that writing about your own experience of awe – whether it’s a trip to the pyramids or your child’s first steps – strengthened it. This slowed people’s perception of time and made them more willing to volunteer for a charity. So, creating your own art is another great way to reap the benefits of awe.
Check out our art and culture section for more ideas. Here, you’ll find articles like 8 weird and wonderful museums to visit in the UK and 19 movies everyone should see.
6. Explore the link between awe and spirituality
Spirituality centres on a belief that there’s something out there greater than ourselves – and this idea has been linked to feelings of awe.
Studies show that people who regularly make time for contemplation (for example, through prayer or meditation) tend to experience more awe. These practices usually involve slowing down, breathing deeply, and focusing on the present moment, which can open us up to experiencing awe. Research also suggests that these emotions are experienced by both religious and non-religious people.
When we’re in tune with our bodies and surroundings, and we feel tethered to something greater than ourselves, we can feel more grateful for the ‘smaller’ things in life. This makes it easier to feel awe-struck by things we may have otherwise taken for granted.
Gratitude itself is seen as a spiritual practice. As author Melody Beattie once wrote, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life… It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity… It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Check out our article, How gratitude can lead to a happier life, for more information.
7. Think big and dream bigger
If you’re looking to experience more awe in daily life, it can help to start thinking and dreaming bigger.
We often impose limits on ourselves based on what we think we can achieve and what we should and shouldn’t do. But it’s much easier to experience awe when we start pushing the boundaries of these limitations.
For example, have you always dreamed of changing careers, taking some time to travel, or wearing more colour? Of course, there are sometimes practical barriers to consider, such as finances or caring responsibilities. But if it’s timing or a lack of self-belief that’s holding you back, why not start brainstorming ways to make your goals a reality? It’s amazing how much awe we can welcome into our lives when we shake things up a bit.
When we start taking tangible steps towards our goals, awe/inspiration can often take over and help us continue down the path we’ve started on. Research suggests that awe can sharpen our reasoning abilities, help us develop new ideas, and spur scientific breakthroughs. So, you might find that once you start stepping outside your comfort zone, inspiration will strike.
To help you start thinking bigger, check out our article: How to create an inspiring vision board.
8. Remember that every day is precious
It’s easy to get swept up in the routine of everyday life and forget that, ultimately, every day is precious. Often, it’s only when things go wrong that we truly appreciate what we had or have – but why wait for that when we can start now?
It might sound like a cliché, but every day is a chance to start again, try something new, and create a life that’s closer to the one we want.
When we start seeing every day as something to be celebrated, life can look quite different, and we can start finding awe around every corner.
Final thoughts…
Awe is good for us. It can make us happier, healthier, kinder – and has the power to bring out the best in us.
Seeing our place in the big scheme of things can offer us new perspectives and help us find meaning and purpose in our lives. And as the experience of awe makes us feel more empathic and connected to others, it can also benefit the world around us.
So, if you can, try to get out in nature, notice the good in others, and appreciate the little things in life. If we open ourselves up to them, awe-inspiring experiences are all around us.
For further reading, head over to our healthy mind section. Here, you’ll find articles like 5 ways to find meaning and purpose in your life and 10 science-backed ways to feel happier.
Have you experienced awe recently? Do you have any tips that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.