Photo by Iris Miceli.
Photo by Iris Miceli.
Vastness, Mystery & Something Bigger
Keltner identifies three elements of awe. The first is a perception of vastness, which can be physical or conceptual vastness. We experience physical vastness when we stand before the Grand Canyon or a Redwood Forest. Conceptual vastness is the feeling that something is beyond the limits of our understanding, like, for me, trying to explain quantum physics or string theory.
The second element of awe is a sense of mystery. Awe jolts us out of the ordinary. We feel challenged to understand our experience. It makes us recognize that our current knowledge is insufficient to make sense of what we have encountered, and we seek to understand the world in new ways. This makes us curious and opens us up to wonder and new ideas.
The third is feeling part of systems larger than the self. Unlike other emotions believed to have evolved from our need for self-preservation, awe orients us toward others. It makes us feel connected to the world around us and allows us to let go of our own desires and egos.
When we experience awe, we tend to focus less on self-criticism, anxiety, and depression, making space for greater connection and care for those around us.
But awe is not only found in grand, transformational experiences. We can experience awe every day, if we know where to look.
Wonders of Life
Through his research that involved listening to thousands of people across different cultures tell their stories about awe-inspiring moments, Keltner has identified eight main sources of awe that he calls the wonders of life.
- Moral Beauty (witnessing other people’s acts of courage, love, and strength)
- Collective Effervescence (shared experiences and rituals, like weddings and concerts)
- Nature
- Music
- Visual Design
- Spirituality and Religion
- Life and Death
- Epiphany
The Denver Art Museum is a great place to experience awe. You can spend time exploring the hundreds of artworks on view, basking in the beauty and marveling at the mastery of artists across time and space. Many artworks at the DAM also explore themes that connect to the wonders of life, from luscious scenes of nature to representations of spirituality and religion and even meditations on the meaning of life and death. Not to mention that even if you visit alone, you are sharing the experience with other museumgoers as an act of collective effervescence.
Awe and Wellbeing
The bottom line is that awe is good for us. It makes us more receptive to new ideas and perspectives. Awe increases resilience after stressful life events. It encourages us to collaborate and seek out community. Awe has even been shown to reduce inflammation in the body and to release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin. And because awe makes us feel part of something larger than ourselves, it may be the antidote to the loneliness and isolation many feel in our increasingly polarized climate.
Awe is also all around us. The key is to look for the extraordinary in the ordinary. Pay attention to the small moments of joy you experience in your daily life—lending a hand to someone in need, watching the sun set in a local park, or dancing to your favorite song. When we make time to notice and appreciate the small things, they can make a big difference in our outlook and wellbeing.
