Awe is the feeling of looking up at the trees as they glisten with sunshine and morning dew. It is seeing a rainbow that feels as if it is privately meant for you alone. Awe makes us look up and pay attention to the beauty in the world. We can return to the feeling that we had when we were first learning about the sheer size of it all. The Romantics wrote that awe or the sublime, is the feeling we have when our inner subjective world aligns with the objective natural world and overwhelms us. In a good way.
I don’t think that we talk about awe much. In my experience, the fastest way for me to get out of the doldrums of emotions like boredom, depression and sadness is to find those places and those things in which I can feel myself returning to wonderment. Wonderment within beauty and nature. Wonderment at how small I really am.
Not every one is able to have the kind of childhood in which you can explore the world unfettered, without restrictions, but I did. I grew up in small towns in the Midwest and we were away from home all day in the summers. I would wake up, eat something and head outside. Sometimes I would bike or walk in the woods behind my home. I would sit by ponds and watch frogs and bees, allowing myself to become enamored with their sounds and the work they were doing. I became adept at identifying the calls of our local birds, listening to Chickadees, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Robins. They reminded me that this planet is also for experiencing awe and that we are here to enjoy our time. I remember spending time laying on the grass, looking up at the clouds trying to decipher shapes and objects. I loved looking for unicorns and bears, tigers or dolphins. I could lay in a bed of grass and escape into what felt enchanting.
So the more recent day that I woke up tired of feeling stuck and low, I decided to find that wandering child. I took myself to a local land preserve and immersed myself in the sounds, colors and sights of the trail. I listened to the birds and to my feet walking on the dirt. I watched for squirrels and chipmunks darting in and out of trees. I smelled the sweet grass and the wildflowers, paying special attention to shapes, colors and textures. I immersed myself in the beauty and wonder of nature. I don’t always get out to the preserve as often as I would like, but I make a point to bring myself there when I can. It can feel nice to be able to return to nature and to feel a part of something so interconnected.
Simple Practices to Create More Awe:
Go to nature and notice what is there. If you live in a city or do not have access to a trail, it’s okay to find a tree and sit next to it. Or observe the pigeons flying together, vying for food. Often I advise people who live in cities to plan a weekend trip to somewhere that includes more of a natural environment every so often. This could mean anything from taking a train to a VRBO up north or biking to a little park a few blocks away. The point is to recognize the vastness of nature and to find natural patterns, (leaves, spider webs, tree bark, etc.) Finding appreciation for nature and these patterns increases awe.
Alternatively, watch nature programs. What animals or spaces are you drawn to viewing? What would you like to observe? I found a documentary on whales that made me cry because I did not realize how altruistic they are with one another. I love watching forest animals, dolphins, or even choosing a location to explore. It is easy to escape into the wonderment of places that I cannot easily access like South America or Australia. Documentaries that support awe can replace the time we would spend half watching something else that we care little about.
Browse new to you music. Oooh, this is a great life hack! Nothing picks me up when I feel down like music. And it can be a fun experience to browse your music service and look through your favorite genre for new songs or pick a genre you do not know much about and see what appeals to you. In between projects sometimes I jump on my music app and browse what’s new this week and listen to a few songs until I find one I will want to play again later. Or I may break out an old dance hit and move around. I like playing music without words when I am looking to focus.
Watch some one you admire do what comes easily to them. This could be any one from a dancer to an athlete. Looking up dance companies on social media is one of my client’s favorite ways of cultivating awe. You could follow your favorite football team and watch them complete seemingly impossible passes. Maybe you admire your someone who plays the violin or has a gorgeous singing voice. Get lost in their process and their inspired by their abilities. See them perform well and feel the goosebumps that come with feeling awe.
Move your body with a buddy or two. Taking a walk or biking with a friend makes us feel more generous and cooperative, according to Scientific American. The research says that moving with any one in any way can provide us with a deeper sense of belonging. Try tapping your fingers in unison with some one else and see what happens, it can be that simple. I have found that taking dance classes makes me feel a kind of social connection that I do not usually get when I work with other people. It brings a harmony, a rhythm, a deep sense of connection.
Learn something new. This applies only to the things you are interested in learning. For example, I do not wish to learn how my carburetor works and am very happy to pay some one to fix it for me. However, when it comes to gluten-free baking or art, I am happy to try something new. I am also thinking about new concepts that I would like to learn and have signed up for a couple of new classes that will feel exciting to me. I like to consider some big ideas and to feel the awe that comes with gaining knowledge.
Take a mindful walk. Feel small next to large buildings or trees. Look at colors, textures, patterns, and at things you do not normally notice. You can easily do this in your neighborhood, it does not have to be on a trail. What about that artwork on the building you pass by on your way to the subway? Check it out. Notice the colors and assign it some meaning. This builds awe.
Make the ordinary extraordinary. I love this one. It is free and easy to practice. Do something like take your partner’s hand and feel the pressure of a squeeze. Look into a child’s eyes and notice the worlds within. Give someone a hug that lasts 20 seconds and feel the connection. Pet your own pet or a cat or a dog at a shelter and feel their warmth and fur. Observe mundane moments in a new way. I used to hate handwashing dishes until one of my friends turned me onto the idea that it is the simplest task I can do today. Maybe I could enjoy the ability to make a dish clean and to smell the soap and to feel accomplished. Now I hand wash dishes and watch the bubbles while listening to music and feel pretty great. I feel grateful that all I need to do is make a dish clean. Awe can come from the ordinary if we seek to find it.
Take pictures of whatever you find to be beautiful. Maybe it’s the pillow case your partner uses or your cat’s paws. I like to take pictures at multiple angles to see if there is some new pattern or color I can notice. My family likes to put the pictures we take up on our TV so we can look at them together and feel that sensation of awe. It makes us feel closer.
I hope this helps. Sending you wonderment.

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