In the last two months, many people across our state and nation experienced two awe inspiring events: the total solar eclipse and the Aura Borealis. While the total solar eclipse had been on everyone’s radar for months, if not years, the Northern Lights last weekend came as a pleasant surprise to most of us. As I witnessed both events, I felt joy, wonder, excitement, and an emotion that I identify as awe. I had goosebumps and even shed some happy tears as I watched the sun disappear in April and saw colorful lights dance across the night sky last weekend.
So, what is awe? According to Dacher Keltner, the Director at the Greater Good Science Center, awe is “the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world. When people feel awe, they may use other words to describe the experience, such as wonder, amazement, surprise, or transcendence.” Scientists began studying awe over 20 years ago and they believe awe offers a range of benefits including calming our nervous systems and relieving stress.
Piercarlo Valdesolo, a professor at Claremont McKenna College, explains that awe occurs when “you see something that you perhaps haven’t noticed before, and you realize there’s a lot more to it than you previously had thought. It’s almost like you’re peering into a world that you hadn’t seen before. Something is opening up to you.” The power of awe is that it makes you realize there’s something bigger or beyond yourself. In other words, it can help you get out of your own head.
Although the solar eclipse and the northern lights were significant events, awe can be found every day, in the small things. In fact, science shows that taking a moment each day to seek out awe has long-term, positive effects on your health and wellness. Here are a few tips for finding more awe in your life:
- If possible, seek a new location to explore.
- Silence your phones and electronics.
- Look at the world with childlike curiosity and wonder.
- Be present and pay attention to all your senses.
- Explore the moments and sights that catch your attention. Is it the landscape? Tiny patterns of light and shadow? Let your attention move from the vast to the small.
- Ask yourself big questions. What makes you curious? What do you want to learn or understand more?
- Pay attention to how you feel during and after your outing.
The next time you need a positive boost, seek awe. Remember it can be as simple as peering out your window or getting outside. For example, when I looked closely at this sunflower in my backyard, I noticed a mandala in the center. I think it is amazingly beautiful!
How about you? Please share your awe inspiring experiences in the natural world. Awe not only boosts our minds and bodies, but it can also boost social connections and the feeling of belonging.
To learn more about the powerful health and wellness benefits of nature, visit go.osu.edu/Nature-Matters.
Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu
Reviewed by: Heather Reister, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Butler County.
Photo Credits: Laura M. Stanton.
Sources
Doucleff, M. (2021, June 29). Awe appears to be awfully beneficial. National Public Radio. https://www.npr.org/2021/06/29/1011415113/awe-appears-to-be-awfully-beneficial
Eagle, J. and Amster, M. (2023). The Power of Awe: Overcome Burnout & Anxiety, Ease Chronic Pain, Find Clarity & Purpose―In Less Than 1 Minute Per Day. Hachette Go.
The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley (2024). What is awe?https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/awe/definition
Keltner, D. (2023). Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. Penguin Press.
Keltner, D. (2023, February 14). How to take an awe walk. Mindful. https://www.mindful.org/how-to-take-an-awe-walk
National Public Radio. (2023, January 13). Transformative Power of Awe. https://www.npr.org/2023/05/06/1174476949/transformative-power-of-awe
Reynolds, G. (2020, October 1). An ‘awe walk’ might do wonders for your well-being. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/30/well/move/an-awe-walk-might-do-wonders-for-your-well-being.html
