Thoughtful Thursday: Awe, wonder, and feeling a part of something bigger than ourselves

I don’t know about you, but when I’m doing something that fills me with a sense of wonderment – a sense of awe – I don’t stop and consider what impact this experience might be having on my well-being. However, none of us should be overly surprised to learn that awe has a very positive impact, and researchers are now on the case, trying to figure out why and how.

Lately there’s been quite a bit of news coverage about the power of awe and the science behind it, thanks to a newly-published book by Dacher Keltner entitled Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life. The premise is that the experience of awe helps us lead a more fulfilling and healthier life through physical/biological processes as well as mental/emotional ones.

Let’s start with what exactly Dr. Keltner means by awe. First of all, he is the founding director of The Greater Good Science Center and a psychology professor at UC Berkley.  In my book, anyone who creates a research center called the Greater Good Science Center is worth paying attention to. His professional work involves research about happiness and compassion; what’s not to like about that?!  The definition of awe he’s working with is as follows:

Awe is the feeling we get in the presence of something vast that challenges our understanding of the world, like looking up at millions of star in the night sky or marveling at the birth of a child. When people feel awe, they may use other words to describe the experience, such as wonder, amazement, surprise, or transcendence.

The most common sources of awe are other people and nature, but awe can be elicited by many other experiences as well, such as music, art or architecture, religious experiences, the supernatural, or even one’s one accomplishments.

These scientists have determined that experiencing awe is very good for our well-being; it takes us to a place beyond our own needs and concerns. Such experiences often make us realize that we are a part of something much larger than ourselves; it might be the sudden recognition of the vastness and mysteries of the universe, or our very short timeslot on the long timeline of history, or our good fortune to be part of this infinitely rich and and diverse world of nature.

Biologically, awe remains something of a mystery, but they’re working on it. I was surprised to read that six basic emotions were identified by scientists back in 1972:  anger, surprise, disgust, enjoyment, fear and sadness. I wasn’t too impressed that these were considered the six basic emotions; it seems like any awfully depressing list. I’m glad that list is now a work in progress again, with at the very least joy and contentment being considered. And apparently our bodies respond differently to our experiences of awe than even joy, contentment or fear. Among other responses, experiencing awe or wonder slows our heart rate, relieves digestion‌ and deepens breathing. It’s time for more awe and less reading the news! More awe and fewer pills!!

In reading the several articles that have been spawned from the interest in Dr. Keltner’s book, I’ve been spending some time thinking about what inspires awe in me. The Grand Canyon seems to be a go-to example in some of these articles and I can see why. It was a place I had wanted to visit since I was a kid, and the first time I finally looked over its rim was without a doubt a moment of awe, a defining moment of awe. I’ll never forget it. The Grand Canyon is one of those places where pictures simply cannot do it justice. This is true of many, many places and experiences in nature, all awe-inspiring (including most of the other national parks in the U.S. Southwest). At times it’s the grandeur and beauty that can’t be captured; you simply cannot take it all in – or get enough of it. Or it might just be the unexpected specialness of the particular experience.

The indescribable Grand Canyon

For me, a monthly occurrence of which I never tire is the rising of the full moon over the Saint John River behind our house. I could stare at it for hours. For me, it’s magical.  Although I’m (more or less) a science girl by training, I don’t want to know anything scientific about the moon; I don’t want to spoil the magic. But that’s just me. Every month (when it’s not clouded over) I say to my husband, “Oh, wow, look at the moon!” and he replies, just to be nice, “Oh, right.”  We all have our personal moments of awe.

I can think of so many experiences that bring me a sense of awe. Sightings of animals in the wild, watching their movements and recognizing the privilege of being able to witness them in their own habitat.

Whale watching in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

Tiger in Ranthambore, India

Bald eagles in their permanent nest about 2 kms from our house along thewalking trail beside their food source, the Saint John River

Visits to places around the world that remind us of what people have accomplished in the distant past, of buildings, monuments, temples, and ancient cities on enormous scales, in awe-inspiring settings.

Tiger’s Nest, Bhutan

Macchu Pichu, perched high in the Andes in Peru

And maybe nothing is more awe-inspiring than witnessing young children figuring out the world, as they carefully watch every detail of what’s going on around them and try to emulate it. Their first smile. Their pride in their first steps. Their interest in everything new (except maybe new food!).

A much younger granddaughter looking in wonder at a display in Ottawa’s Science Museum (she’s driving now!)

Since the definition above includes the possibility of music and art, perhaps I’ll share this YouTube clip with you that came my way recently (thanks, Marilyn). This short clip of ventriloquist Megan Piphus having her dummies sing Whitney Houston songs definitely fills me with awe. This woman is astounding. The dummies’ singing Whitney Houston songs is remarkable; it gives me chills every time I watch. (The awe-inspiring part is in the 1:55-3:35 minute segment of the clip; I recommend skipping to her act and closing it down at the conclusion of the songs.)

The bottom line is that experiencing moments of awe is a tonic for our souls (another aspect of humans that scientists have a difficult time studying!). Such experiences are all around us, just waiting to be noticed. We don’t necessarily need to go looking for them – although perhaps slowly down and noticing our natural  surroundings more would help – but when you feel that moment of awe, embrace it. Absorb the feeling of wonderment.  Savour that feeling and stash it away to retrieve and remind yourself of over and over again.

It turns out that my list of awe is a long one. What about you? Do you have some go-to awe-inspiring places or experiences that come to mind? Ones that fill you with wonder and take you away from your daily concerns?