Experiencing Awe
At times, life can start to feel mundane, and trivialities can take up disproportionate space in our minds. This past week on vacation in Japan, I experienced multiple moments of awe. The appearance of the earth at sunset from a plane, bonito flakes "dancing" on a Japanese pancake (omelette) as the steam rose from the hot plate, standing amidst a bamboo grove with thousands of bamboo stalks towering around, interactions with strangers in which warmth and connection in brief moments of exchange made me feel like I wanted to reciprocate that kindness to everyone I met, the feeling of my child putting her arm around my hip and walking in step with me through the city, an Alan Jackson country song coming on in a Japanese cafe on a rainy day transporting me to my country music phase in my teens...
Coming back, I find myself wanting to stay in that awe space.
A growing field of science described by UC Berkeley's Greater Good Science Center supports that experiencing awe is good for us, from making us feel more connected to people and more kind and generous, to decreasing inflammation, to making time feel more expansive.
Importantly, we don't have to travel to find this benefit. Last night, I was reminded of this as I sat at a work dinner with colleagues and wondered at how much I love the people with whom I work. Music, poems, videos, a nature walk or a look at the night sky, among countless other experiences, can all elicit similar responses.
Check out this 4 minute
Awe Video
(preferably on an ultra wide screen monitor in full screen) to start your awe practice.
Related Resources
Have an "awe"some weekend!
