Creating an “Awe-Full” Life
“Take the time to pause and open your mind to those things which you do not fully understand. You will be the better for it.” Dacher Keltner, PhD, Psychologist and Awe Researcher
He was absolutely giddy as he described the pictures. “Oh! This is just stupefying detail!” There was Neil deGrasse Tyson, PhD, the world’s most renown astrophysicist and science communicator extraordinaire, explaining the nuances of the first pictures to be shared this week from the James Webb Space Telescope. “This is the color you would see if your eyes could see infrared light …. and just look at that quintet of galaxies, GALAXIES!....
And they were stunning, the pictures taken from a telescope which is almost 1 million miles from earth, allowing viewers to peer deeper into our universe than anyone in the earth’s history has ever done, showing innumerable galaxies each containing an estimated 100 billion stars, and revealing light which has been traveling in some cases for an estimated 13.5 billion years.
Wait … What!?! How to grasp 13.5 billion light years? Some scientists estimate that if we could peer back 13.8 billion light years, we would be getting a glimpse into the origins of our universe. In other words, it’s A LOT – so much so that we really can’t grasp it, try as we may. We can, however, be filled with awe.
Awe, the feeling of being in the presence of something that transcends, challenges, or deepens our understanding and/or appreciation of the world – a sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. It might be found in nature, art, a mind-stretching idea, or an impressive feat. The experience can be grand, such as peering at a picture containing 13.5-billion-year-old light and numerous galaxies, but is often much more subtle, such as appreciating the intricacies of a flower, being moved by a piece of music, watching a butterfly in flight, taking in a sunrise or sunset, or looking into the eyes of a child. And while “giddy” may be one response, more often it will be one of silent, wide-eyed reverence.
While majestic images from space are certainly awe-inspiring, what if you could peer more deeply into the “universe” of your daily life and in doing so, to regularly fill your day with moments of wonderment and awe?
Well, I have good news for you. You can. All that is required is for you to refocus your “awe lens.” How? Start by taking this brief quiz ( The Power of Awe Quiz ). When you're finished, you'll receive tips for expanding your daily experiences of awe. And as this happens, remember to share your “wow!” moments with others. After all, it would be a shame to keep such “awe-full” moments to yourself.