When was the last time you felt awe? Perhaps it was watching a vivid sunrise, hearing a moving piece of music, or witnessing a simple act of kindness. Awe is a powerful emotion—one that transforms the way we see ourselves and the world around us. Beyond its ability to inspire and humble us, research shows that awe can profoundly impact our mental, emotional, and physical well-being and guide us toward the good life: one enlivened by joy, community, and meaning, that brings us a sense of purpose and belonging.

In a recent episode of Feel Better, Live More, Dr. Rangan Chatterjee explored the science of awe with Dr. Dacher Keltner, a leading psychologist and expert on human emotions. Their conversation revealed awe as a deeply transformative experience, one that is accessible to all of us in everyday life. In this article, I’ll unpack some of the key insights from the podcast and Dr. Keltner’s book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, as well as share practical strategies to help you and your family cultivate awe as part of a holistic approach to well-being.

What Is Awe and Why Does It Matter?

Inspired by philosopher Edmund Burke, Dr. Dacher Keltner suggests that awe arises from powerful, mysterious things we can't fully grasp. He defines awe as "our emotional response to something vast, mysterious, and beyond our understanding." Awe connects us to realms beyond material concerns, prompting reflection on life’s deeper meaning. It can be evoked by acts of kindness, profound natural beauty, or moments that challenge our understanding of the world.

Paradoxically, Keltner also acknowledges that awe goes beyond definition. Despite extensive research on awe, he admits that data alone cannot fully capture its essence. Awe is the feeling you might get when standing in a forest of towering trees, gazing at the stars, or watching a stranger perform an act of courage or kindness. Awe shrinks our ego, making us feel small in the best possible way. It reminds us that we are part of something greater—whether that’s nature, humanity, or the intricate web of life itself.

Yet, awe isn’t just a fleeting emotion; it’s a powerful antidote to many challenges of modern life. Studies show that experiencing awe can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and even lower inflammation. It activates the vagus nerve, which regulates our body’s stress response, and shifts our focus away from ourselves, reducing excessive self-centeredness and anxiety.

In fact, research suggests that regularly experiencing awe can improve health and even extend lifespan, which may explain why awe-inspiring traditions and environments often correlate with longer life spans in Blue Zone regions, such as parts of Japan.

Experiencing awe also reminds us of our interconnectedness with the world, helping to counteract the ego-driven tendencies of modern society that can inhibit our ability to feel it. Dr. Keltner highlights that some languages better capture this sense of shared connection than English, reflecting cultural differences in how we view the self. For example, the Japanese term jibun refers to a "shared life space," emphasizing a collective sense of self rather than an individualistic one. Similarly, the Javanese concept of perna conveys the idea of home and belonging within a larger community. In contrast, English tends to focus on individualistic terms like "self" and "ego," which may limit our ability to describe collective experiences and shared connections.

These linguistic and cultural contrasts underscore the importance of broadening our perspective to embrace a more collective imagination—one that fosters awe and deepens our awareness of interconnectedness with humanity, nature, and the wider world.

Keltner believes awe, as Einstein suggested, is fundamental. To truly understand awe, Keltner went beyond scientific data in his book, gathering stories from diverse sources such as prisoners, ministers, and everyday people. This exploration revealed awe as a universal experience with profound effects on how we perceive and live our lives.

The Profound Benefits of Awe

While awe is commonly associated with nature and spirituality, Dr. Dacher Keltner’s extensive research reveals eight distinct pathways to experiencing the universal Wonders of Awe. These "eight wonders" include moral beauty (kindness, courage), nature, collective movement (like sports fans), music, visual design, spirituality, epiphanies (big ideas), and mystery. Each of these pathways offers unique opportunities to experience awe in our everyday lives.

The last two sections of Dr. Dacher Keltner’s book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, titled "Tangled Bank of Life" and "Finding Our Place in the Systems of Life," struck a strong chord with me and resonate deeply with much of what lies at the heart of HT. These sections explore the transformative power of awe to shift our perspective and reveal the interconnected systems that define life. At its essence, life is a web of interdependent relationships—a "tangled bank" of natural, social, and cultural systems working together in dynamic harmony. Awe pulls back the curtain, allowing us to see these systems more clearly and to understand that we are not isolated individuals, but vital parts of something much larger and ever-changing.

Through moments of awe, we can begin to see life through what Dr. Keltner calls a "systems lens." This perspective enables us to move beyond the individualistic, reductionist way of thinking that dominates modern society and instead recognise the intricate relationships that sustain life. Whether it’s the interconnected cells in our bodies, the ecosystems that nourish us, or the communities we belong to, awe helps us perceive how the parts contribute to the whole and how life itself is in a constant cycle of growth, change, and renewal.

This way of thinking is not new. Indigenous cultures have long understood the importance of systems thinking, grounding their survival and traditions in an awareness of the interdependence between humanity, nature, and community. Awe reconnects us to these ancient truths, grounding us in the understanding that our existence is part of a larger, evolving system. It is a powerful reminder that life is not static—it is dynamic, fluid, and profoundly interconnected.

What struck me most about these reflections is the way awe invites us to revisit life’s most fundamental questions: What is life? Why am I here? What is my purpose? While awe doesn’t provide definitive answers, it offers a sense of clarity and connection. It reminds us that life is about relationships—between people, between species, and between ourselves and the natural world. It helps us find our place in the systems of life, fostering a sense of humility, gratitude, and wonder.

As Dr. Keltner describes, awe has the power to shift our minds from the illusion of separateness to an awareness of interdependence. It connects us to the vast forces of life, reminding us that we are just one part of a larger whole. Awe teaches us to pause, reflect, and embrace the wonder that surrounds us, helping us to live with greater meaning and connection.

As parents and educators, by embracing the science of awe and incorporating it into the Four Pillars of Health, we can create a more holistic, meaningful approach to well-being for ourselves and our families. By weaving awe into our daily lives—whether through mindful walks, shared meals, or moments of gratitude—we not only improve our own well-being but also teach our children to see the world with curiosity, humility, and joy.

So, this week, take a moment to pause, look around, and be open to cultivating a little more awe in your life.