I don’t believe in “magic pills,” but if there was one, it would be AWE.

I'm reading Dacher Keltner's 2023 book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder & How it Can Transform Your Life, and it’s really opening my eyes to what feels like a secret that I already knew: awe transforms our brains and bodies in a radical and deeply personal way.

Awe is the feeling of "being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world." Think: chills, whoahhs, and tears. Awe makes you feel small - in a really good way - according to scientific research, it makes you act more generously, your thinking more rigorous and creative, reduces stress.

8 Wonders of Life

Keltner’s research identified 8 “wonders of life” - how people, globally, find awe (from research spanning 26 countries).

1. Other people’s courage, kindness, strength or overcoming

2. The buzzing/crackling of being a part of a “we” (being in the crowd at a sports event, rally, concert, dance etc.)

3. Nature: the night sky, lightning, murmuration, walking among large trees, looking at the ocean, etc.

4. Music: listening quietly, singing with others, playing an instrument…

5. Visual art & design: architecture, paintings, a stunning sculpture…

6. Spirituality: mystical awe of religion, ritual…

7. Life and Death: witnessing the cycle of life, birth and death

8. Epiphanies: suddenly understanding essential truths about life…

For me, #1, 3, & 4 are probably where I experience most often, but I have felt it in all of these at one point or another.

➡️Pause for a moment and ask yourself (or hit reply and share with me, please!): Where do YOU find your awe?

A powerful shift

Our ego is our default sense of individual self. It plays an outsized role in how we navigate the world, judging what's good and bad for us. One of the most powerful impacts of awe is a profound shift in our ego.

In moments of awe, we shift from the individualistic feeling that we alone control our own fate, which so easily become striving for competitive advantage against others. This isn't just external striving, it's often more insidious internally (i.e. feeling self-doubt, self-criticism, I'm not enough).

Awe flips that switch.

In awe, we register our awareness of the things that unite us. We actually expand our circle of care, the network of people we feel kindness towards. In other words, awe awakens the better angels of our nature. (Something I could use more of these days)

Awe is not a privilege

It's a myth that awe is rarefied, reserved for when we have "enough" wealth or time or privilege.

One study found that people who have less wealth report feeling more frequent awe during the day, and more wonder about their everyday surroundings.

In fact, our experience of awe doesn't depend on wealth at all. If anything, wealth undermines every-day awe and our capacity to see moral beauty in others.

More, not less

The science is clear: the more we find awe, the richer it gets. This is especially exciting because usually, with positive emotions, we experience something called hedonic adaptation, or in other words, what once made you really happy (say, if you won the lottery), eventually stops making you so happy, and you return to your baseline level of happiness. That's why they say money can't buy happiness.

BUT not so with awe! Seeking more every day awe-inspiring experiences has the opposite effect: it grows your capacity to thrive. You actually strengthen your ability to withstand stress, to see hidden solutions within chaos, and authentically grow your circle of care and kindness towards others.

All you need now need to practice finding more awe in my everyday life.

Microdosing: A little awe every day keeps the doctor away

What would it look like to add a small dose of awe into every day? 🤏

Could it actually keep the doctor away? 🤔

Engaging in even small moments of awe reduces fight or flight cardiovascular response, blood pressure, and inflammation at a cellular level, according to Keltner's research.

I highly encourage following your own instincts, based on which of the 8 wonders you resonate most with. But if you want some ideas on a place to start, here are few experiments to play around with.

1. Go Outside for The Awe Walk

This first one was developed by Keltner and the neuroscientist Virginia Sturm for a research study on awe. Not only did participants grow in awe each week with this practice, but it also actually led to decreases in anxiety and depression.

Here are their instructions:

1. Tap into your childlike sense of wonder. Young Children are in an almost constant state of awe since everything is so new to them. During your walk, try to approach what you see with fresh eyes, imagining that you're seeing it for the first time. Take a moment in each walk to take in the vastness of things, for example in looking at a panoramic view or up close at the detail of a flower.
2. Go somewhere new. Each week, try to choose a new location. You're more likely to feel awe in a novel environment where the sights and sounds are unexpected and unfamiliar to you. That said, some places never seem to get old, so there's nothing wrong with revisiting your favorite spots if you find that they consistently fill you with awe. The key is to recognize new features of the same old place.

2. Listen to Stories: The Moth Radio Hour

This one is something you can do while driving, cooking dinner, folding laundry, or instead of watching TV. The Moth Radio Hour is chock-full of awe-inspiring stories, delivered in short, easy-to-listen bites. This one truly taps into the 1st of the 8 life wonders: the wonder of others - real-life, authentic, raw, stories of kindness, courage, and overcoming. They've made me laugh and cry. I guarantee you'll find one that strikes you with awe.

3. Try Ecstatic Dance

This last one is for those who might crave something even more embodied and creative, and is dedicated to my sister, Bex, who first introduced me to these. I'll be honest - I'm not a big dancer. It's not my go-to way of expressing myself. YET... maybe because it's not my comfort zone, when I do let inhibitions go and just dance, it feels so good. Now I wonder how much of that connects to its innate capacity for generating an exhilarating sense of awe (both the collective movement and the music elements). Ecstatic dance parties are both drug and alcohol-free and kid-friendly. You'll find lots of free spirits present, but even if you don't usually gravitate there I highly recommend it. They pop up all over.

Can't make it to one of these? Guess what?? You can have a dance party at home! This is actually one of my kids' FAVORITE activities. We turn down the lights, stream a dance mix, (add one of these to really make it special) and just move :)

There you have it - 3 easy ways to start to play with finding daily awe.

Stay playful

I'll sign off with something to make you smile, and remind you to keep your eyes open for more daily awe ! 😁💕

(Watch this video of ​murmuration​ if you didn't above, and you'll probably get a preview of the chills in store)

Coming up

I'm going to be launching another Practice to Thrive session, for professionals to explore & deepen mind-body practices for rebalancing ways of working at the end of April. Stay tuned for more details.

Warmly,

Allie