The Importance of "Awe"
ON THE BLOG WRITTEN BY LAUREN HORLICK
My favorite time of year happened this week: my daffodils bloomed! I have a large patch of daffodils at the back of my property that I have been eyeing longingly and patiently throughout January and February. I have been excited to see the yellow flowers emerge in full force this week. In the past, daffodils symbolized the kick-off of spring. In recent years, daffodils have held additional symbolism for me. Their blooming also signals the desire to notice and absorb the rapid changes in the environment. Every day this week has been greener than the last, as I have seen a different flower or plant blooming. The silence of winter nights has quickly shifted into singing frogs and bugs, and I love it!
This time of year is effortless for me to increase my feelings of awe. Awe is that sense of being completely blown away by something vast, beautiful, or beyond your understanding. Awe is a mixture of feeling smallness, wonder, and connection when we recognize that we are a tiny part of something much bigger. Awe is a powerful emotion that can go undervalued and underappreciated, yet it is profoundly impactful for our mental health. Modern life is awe-starved due to screen time and rushing from task to task; we now see decreased pausing to notice the beauty around us. Here are some reasons why awe is such a game-changer and some ways to help expand awe into your daily life.
Awe can shift your perspective and make you feel smaller in the best way possible, which is known as the "small self" effect. It is the feeling of being small in comparison to something vast, not in a way that makes us feel insignificant but instead diminishes our self-focus and increases our sense of connection to the world around us. When we experience awe, our perception of time changes, and time feels like it is expanding. This is referred to as "time dilation," and it helps us feel less rushed and more present in the here and now. Even in small moments of awe, this time dilation can interrupt mental loops of stress and allow our brain an opportunity to reset. Awe can quiet our inner critic by creating a sense of humility. You're less likely to obsess over your flaws or failures when standing in front of the ocean or staring at the stars. Lastly, awe can boost our gratitude and generosity levels by reminding us that life is more significant than our individual problems.
Awe can be incorporated daily; you don't have to go on a trip or to an excellent sightseeing destination to experience it. By simply slowing down and paying attention, you can train yourself to experience more awe in daily life. My go-to strategy is to take an "awe walk," where I walk outside while intentionally looking for something extraordinary. I treat my walks like a scavenger hunt and try to find something I did not see or notice the day before. This could be a new flower blooming, a bird singing, the sunlight, or even how the wind interacts with the trees and leaves. We have more opportunities to engage in awe when we pay attention to our surroundings, not our screens. Another one of my go-to's is to look up at the night sky for a few minutes. The night sky offered the bulk of my awe during the winter months. If you get home after dark, try pausing on your walk into your home to notice a star or constellation. On days when walks are not possible, listening to music or watching a powerful documentary can also extend our options to experience awe. Spending time with kids or animals is another great option for additional opportunities for awe as they naturally see the world with awe.
If you're feeling burned out, anxious, or disconnected — seek out awe. It's one of the most straightforward, most healing medicines we have. I want to challenge you all to try and find one moment of awe each day. Reminder: This does not have to be a big moment; just be a moment to pause and go, "Wow." In a world constantly telling us to be more, do more, and achieve more, awe reminds us just to be, as we were already part of something incredible.
Lauren Horlick
Licensed Professional Counselor
Public Relations Manager