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I had the privilege of attending a six-hour training with Jonah Paquette, Psy.D. on anxiety. At the end of the talk, Jonah started speaking about the importance of Awe. He is the author of the book Awestruck: How Embracing Wonder Can Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Connected . He mentioned several things about Awe that I thought it would be fun to share.       

He defines awe as “encountering something vast/bigger than ourselves which forces us to re-evaluate our existing mental structures.”       

Studies have linked awe to increases in life satisfaction, connectedness, kindness, altruism, and even decreased markers in chronic inflammation.

The most interesting thing is when we think of awe, we usually imagine big experiences like seeing the Grand Canyon. But, the health benefits are related to those who can find awe and wonder in everyday things like a wildflower or a hot cup of coffee.

My favorite part of his talk was when he shared the top three places people find awe. The second was in nature, and the third was witnessing new life and death. But the first was experiencing awe in people. We can find the greatest awe in being with other people and sharing deeply with them. If we can look beyond our differences, we will find a soul connection.

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I had that experience this week with a group of women at a retreat. A group of strangers who quickly shared deeply of their joy and pain. It was a marvel to witness. Each shined with holy beauty and sacred stories of God’s work redeeming difficult life circumstances, from the death of loved ones to choosing to take care of their narcissistic parents. Their stories of grace and struggle connected us deeply as humans.

What can you do this week to experience awe? Take the time to slow down and look for that of God in all creation. Savor, not sprint, through your day.

 I’d love to hear about where and how you experience awe.

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