How Awe Can Make You Happier

Have you ever felt awe? Awe is the emotion we feel when we encounter something that is vast, unexpected, or transcendent, and that challenges our existing understanding of the world. Awe can be triggered by natural beauty, artistic masterpieces, human achievements, or spiritual experiences.

Awe is a heightened awareness of beauty and mystery, and it’s most commonly induced when we are among natural wonders or with inspiring leaders¹.

Awe is not just a pleasant feeling; it can also have profound effects on our well-being, happiness, and creativity. Hereby, we will explore some of the benefits of awe and how we can cultivate more awe in our lives.

The benefits of awe

Research has shown that experiencing awe can have various positive outcomes, such as:

Happiness and satisfaction:

Awe can make us feel more joyful, grateful, and satisfied with our lives. It can also reduce stress and negative emotions like anger, fear, and sadness.

Health and immunity:

Awe can boost our immune system by lowering inflammation, which is linked to many chronic diseases. It can also lower blood pressure and improve heart health.

Humility and generosity:

Awe can make us feel more humble and less entitled. It can also increase our compassion and altruism toward others, as well as our willingness to cooperate and help.

Curiosity and learning:

Awe can spark our curiosity and interest in learning new things. It can also enhance our memory and recall of awe-inspiring events.

Creativity and innovation:

Awe can stimulate our imagination and creativity by expanding our perspective and opening our minds to new possibilities. It can also increase our divergent thinking and problem-solving skills.

How to cultivate awe

Awe is not a rare or elusive emotion; it can be found in many situations and contexts. Here are some ways to cultivate more awe in your life:

Seek out awe-inspiring places:

Whether it is a natural wonder, a cultural landmark, or a historical site, find places that fill you with awe and visit them regularly. You can also travel to new destinations that offer different sources of awe.

Pay attention to the details:

Awe can be found in the small things as well as the big ones. Pay attention to the details of your surroundings, such as the patterns of light and shadow, the colors and textures, or the sounds and smells. You may discover awe in unexpected places.

Try something new:

Awe often comes from encountering something novel or unfamiliar. Try something new that challenges you or exposes you to a different culture, such as learning a new skill, taking a class, or reading a book.

Share your awe with others

Awe can be amplified when we share it with others. Talk about your awe experiences with your friends and family, or write about them in a journal or a blog. You can also seek out people who share your awe interests or passions, such as joining a club or a community.

Reflect on your awe:

Awe can have lasting effects if we reflect on it and integrate it into our lives. Think about what you learned from your awe experiences, how they changed your perspective or attitude, or how they inspired you to act differently. You can also express your awe through art, music, poetry, or other creative outlets.

Awe is a powerful emotion that can enrich our lives in many ways. By cultivating more awe in our lives, we can boost our happiness, health, creativity, and more. So go ahead and find your awe moments today!