5 Ways to Find Awe in Everyday Life
5 Ways to Find Awe in Everyday Life by Cassandra McD. for Swell Made Co. Photo by Ophelie Authier.
Finding Awe in Unexpected Places
Ask me what I had for lunch yesterday, and I will pause, eyes rolling upward as if the answer lay somewhere above my head, out of reach. I will have trouble recalling it. I've got a terrible memory. I often forget experiences and conversations and have had to be reminded of advice I'd given to someone – it was good advice, apparently (phew!).
There are, however, moments from my past that have stayed with me even more than 20 years on. There was that time in Jamaica as a teen visiting my grandparents. I watched three beautiful hummingbirds zip from flower to flower just within reach of me. Such a small and fleeting moment – likely several seconds, yet I haven't forgotten it.
Then there was the time in Paris when I stood on the upper level of the Eiffel Tower, 267m up, taking in the expanse of the city. A surreal moment that took my breath away and made me a little emotional in a way that seeing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre didn't. Go figure.
It's hard to precisely describe what I felt in those moments - a state of wonder where there was an unexpected stillness and a knowing that there was something meaningful and extra memorable about that moment. The funny thing is that this feeling of awe stayed with me long after the moment had passed.
What is Awe?
Awe has been described as "one of the most mysterious and mystifying of emotions." There are dictionary and theoretical definitions put forward by researchers, but there hasn't been one fixed definition.
My take on awe, for the sake of simplicity, is that you'll know it when you experience it. For example, one might experience awe watching a child being born. You might experience awe when you are so overwhelmed by the beauty of a thing, whether it is a breathtaking landscape, art, music, or a spiritual experience.
Feelings of awe can have a physical reaction such as crying, goosebumps, or getting the chills. I've been brought to tears and goosebumps while listening to an opera singer perform Ave Maria on more than one occasion, and I don't really listen to opera music. That song performed right leaves me in awe every time.
You might also experience a psychological reaction, such as a strong feeling of connectedness to the world around you. Looking out at the vastness of the landscape from the Eiffel Tower, I felt so small, a part of something larger than myself.
Awe isn't always positive, like the idea of experiencing a sense of enlightenment, although that's what we most focus on. Awe can be scary. For example, I once took a late flight where I witnessed bolts of lightning flash through the clouds around me. My brain was saying be afraid while at the same time I was wonderstruck. This can also be described as awe.
Awe, according to researchers, forces us to shift our understanding of the world around us. The experiences are often mind-blowing and render us speechless.
Benefits of Awe
Research has shown that experiencing awe may provide you with several benefits. Experiencing awe may, among other things:
Improve your mood and decrease stress
Make you more satisfied with life
Make you feel smaller and humbler
Decrease feelings of materialism
Increase generosity and kindness
Increase feelings of connectedness to others and humanity
5 Ways to Find Awe in Everyday Life
You don't have to visit the Taj Mahal, Northern Lights, Great Pyramids, Yosemite National Park or any of the many wonders of the world to experience awe (although it would be nice, wouldn't it?!). You can find ways to allow a bit of awe to emerge in your day. Here are five ways to find awe in your everyday life.
Get inspired by the stories of others - Read books about inspirational people or listen to podcasts or audiobooks if you don't have time to sit and read.
Watch Videos – Watching awe-inspiring videos or movies can improve your mood and well-being.
Write about your moments of awe – Write about the times you experienced awe, such as while on vacation or at an event (awe journaling). This might be a great way to slow down and reflect on how you felt in that awe-inducing moment and relive it.
Find awe in nature – Intentionally slowing down while on a nature walk (or forest bathing). Try to be in the moment while you engage your senses and connect with the environment. This may create an awe-inspiring experience and improve your overall health and well-being.
Slow down – We can be so busy and preoccupied that we miss little awe-inspiring moments around us. Slow down and be present as you never know what awe-inspiring moment you might experience while doing everyday mundane things. You might be surprised.
Final Thoughts About Awe
Finding opportunities to add more awe to your daily life may be the balm you need to improve your well-being and happiness during this difficult time in which we find ourselves.
Cassandra (she/her) is a 9-to-5er and when she’s not at her full-time gig, she’s tapping into her creative superpower as a lifestyle content creator and photographer. Her experience with career burnout has turned her into a wellness warrior who knows the power of healing through slowing down and finding calm in everyday with mindfulness, self-compassion, humour and realistic optimism.
Follow her for some inspiration on Instagram: @swaggerandgreys