There’s a simple word we all know—wow. Small, quick, almost childlike, yet it captures something our brains and bodies are hardwired to crave: awe. Whether it’s standing before a star-filled sky, hearing a piece of music that stirs the soul, or watching a child discover snow for the first time, awe awakens a part of us that too often lies dormant in modern life.
Scientists are discovering that this isn’t just a pleasant emotion—it’s a powerful tool for mental health. Regularly experiencing awe improves mood, reduces stress, and strengthens social bonds. In short: wondering more can literally make us well.
Understanding Awe: More Than Just Amazement
1. What Awe Really Is
Awe is distinct from happiness, excitement, or even gratitude. Researchers define it as the feeling we experience when encountering something vast, complex, or beyond our current frame of reference. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt famously called it “the emotion of self-transcendence.”
2. Why the Brain Loves Awe
When awe strikes, the brain momentarily shifts from “self-focus” to “other-focus.” We feel smaller—not in a belittling way, but in a way that connects us to something bigger. Neuroscientists note this quiets areas linked with rumination and overthinking while activating those tied to curiosity, creativity, and connection.
3. Awe as Everyday Experience
Contrary to popular belief, awe doesn’t only arrive at the Grand Canyon or on safari. It can come from small wonders: the fractals of a leaf, the harmony of a choir, or even a powerful story. The key is attention—choosing to notice and appreciate.
The Science of Awe: What Research Reveals
1. Brain Chemistry and Stress Reduction
When awe is triggered, the body releases dopamine and serotonin—neurochemicals that elevate mood and reduce anxiety. Studies from UC Berkeley show that awe decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines, markers linked with depression and chronic illness. Experiencing awe is, quite literally, anti-inflammatory.
2. Strengthening Social Connection
Awe also expands empathy. A 2015 study in Emotion demonstrated that participants who recalled awe-inspiring experiences reported greater generosity and stronger feelings of social belonging. By shifting focus outward, awe deepens our sense of community.
3. Supporting Resilience and Mental Health
Psychologists point out that awe encourages “cognitive accommodation”—the brain reshapes its frameworks to integrate new experiences. This mental flexibility is strongly associated with resilience, optimism, and the ability to recover from stress.
Harnessing Awe for Mental Health
1. Cultivating Awe Daily
Awe doesn’t need to be accidental. With intentional practices, individuals can build it into daily life:
- Nature Walks: Time outdoors consistently correlates with awe. Forests, oceans, or even city parks can evoke wonder when approached with curiosity.
- Astronomy at Home: Stargazing, even with a basic app or pair of binoculars, is one of the simplest ways to spark perspective-shifting awe.
- Art and Music Immersion: Research shows that concerts, galleries, or even listening to a moving piece of music at home can evoke the same brain response as natural wonders.
- Mindful Micro-Moments: Pausing to notice beauty in small details—a child’s laughter, a snowflake’s shape—teaches the brain to recognize awe as a habit.
2. Sharing Awe With Others
Social scientists highlight that awe is amplified when shared. Watching a breathtaking sunset with friends or discussing a moving story with colleagues creates what psychologists call “collective effervescence”—a communal lift in mood and belonging.
3. Awe in Therapeutic Contexts
Some therapists now integrate awe-inducing experiences into treatment for anxiety and depression. From wilderness therapy to guided mindfulness exercises, awe is emerging as a promising, evidence-based mental health tool.
Everyday Applications of Awe
1. In the Workplace
Employers experimenting with “awe interventions” report increases in creativity and collaboration. Team retreats in natural environments, inspirational storytelling, or even awe-evoking office design (art, greenery, open views) have measurable impacts on morale and stress reduction.
2. At Home
Families can create awe rituals: shared walks, storytelling traditions, or awe-focused media (documentaries, music, literature). Experts suggest these experiences foster stronger bonds and improve children’s emotional resilience.
3. In Education
Teachers incorporating awe—through science experiments, storytelling, or exposure to art—see improved student engagement and curiosity. Awe stimulates intrinsic motivation, a key driver of long-term learning.
Awe as an Antidote to Modern Stress
Modern life is noisy: constant notifications, crowded schedules, and relentless demands on attention. Awe offers a counterbalance. By literally shifting perspective, it breaks the cycle of self-absorption and stress.
1. Awe and Mindfulness
Like meditation, awe quiets the default mode network in the brain, reducing rumination. But unlike meditation, awe often arrives effortlessly—through a song, a vista, or a shared story. This makes it accessible even to those who struggle with traditional mindfulness practices.
2. Awe and Gratitude
The two are closely linked. Awe often sparks gratitude, and gratitude practices have been shown to improve sleep, boost mood, and strengthen relationships. Together, they form a positive emotional loop.
3. Awe and Physical Health
Preliminary studies suggest awe may even benefit cardiovascular health by reducing blood pressure and heart rate variability. The stress-buffering effects ripple outward, showing that mental health and physical health are inseparable.
Awe Across Cultures and History
Anthropologists note that awe has been central to human culture for millennia. Religious rituals, art, architecture, and storytelling traditions all harness awe to create community cohesion and resilience. From Gothic cathedrals to ancient epics, awe has always been both a cultural glue and a psychological balm.
Today, as we become more secular and digitized, scientists argue we need intentional awe practices more than ever. What was once built into collective life now requires deliberate cultivation.
Life Lens!
Practical ways to integrate awe into your life and boost mental health:
- Awe Journal: Record one awe-inspiring moment each day, however small. Over time, this rewires attention toward wonder.
- Wonder Walks: Schedule short walks where the goal isn’t exercise but observation—notice the unusual, the beautiful, the vast.
- Shared Awe: Discuss with friends or family the moments that left you speechless; collective reflection deepens the effect.
- Mindful Media: Choose books, films, or music that transport you, rather than only distract you.
- Curiosity Practice: Approach daily life with “beginner’s eyes”—ask more questions, look closer, and remain open to surprise.
Living With Awe: A Prescription for Mental Health
Awe isn’t just a fleeting thrill; it’s a powerful emotional state with measurable benefits. By weaving awe into daily routines, workplaces, and family life, individuals can buffer against stress, strengthen resilience, and cultivate joy.
The challenge is simple yet profound: to pause, to notice, and to let wonder work on us. From the vastness of the night sky to the details of a snowflake, awe is everywhere, waiting to be recognized.
