Last May, I found myself in the middle of the Arizona desert watching the sunrise with a close friend. We were in the middle of running 250 miles across the state, and there was no one around us for miles. It felt as though we were watching the world wake up and gift us with the most beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows against the sandy, cactus-scattered landscapes, with the mountains framing the scene. We had to stop and take it all in. In that moment, I'm sure I felt smaller, happier and more content than I had any right to feel considering the 150 miles already covered. I look back and I can understand now that I was feeling awe.
Research continues to shed light on the benefits of experiencing awe for our well-being. Awe refers to our response to experiencing something more profound, significant, or life-altering that our brains are able to perceive. We aren't able to predict the experience based on our past "normal" behaviors, place it in categories, and expect it. It expands our understanding of the world around us.
Studies have shown connections between awe and living healthier, more meaningful lives. A 2021 study reported that feelings of awe were correlated with lower stress levels, and other studies have linked feelings of awe with lower levels of inflammation. Something as simple as watching awe-inducing slideshows has been shown to improve your mood and overall well-being. Other studies have shown that experiencing awe may help keep us sharp and able to think critically. Feelings of awe may also help keep us more humble, more curious, more creative and increase feelings of smallness relative to the world. The list goes on, but you get the point.
Experiencing awe literally changes the way we see the world, our relationship to others, and our place in it. We become more kind, more giving, and more connected. At a time when some might argue we are less connected to one another than ever before, despite the multitude of technological tools, perhaps finding awe is the salve for what ails our polarized society.
In many ways, our country has lost much of the potential for awe that once existed. Our connection to nature is slim at best. Millions of people in the U.S. don't even have access to a green space within walking distance of their homes. Many struggle to pay bills, support families, and combat the systemic racism and oppression that plagues our society. Awe seems like a distance dream and pretty darn low on the priority list. However, perhaps that is the greatest argument of all for why we need to help more people find their awe.
Let's expand our minds, our senses, and our experiences, and help others do the same. Let's give everyone a chance to feel the magnitude of a beauty greater than themselves. let's give them a chance to hear that piece of music that brings them to tears.
Let's help everyone find their awe.
