Steeped in pleasure, sometimes tinged with fear, and wielding the power to alter life in profound ways, awe is an emotion like no other.
Awe is often described as ‘transcendent’: beyond our normal range of emotions and closely related to feelings like fascination and amazement. It can be triggered by witnessing moving religious sermons, incredible sporting achievements, and large musical events.
When we encounter something that sits outside our ordinary level of experience, either because of its size, power, or beauty, our mental frameworks have to expand in order to make sense of what we’re seeing and hearing.
And therein lies the wonder of awe.
Natural Wonders
Perhaps the most dramatic triggers of awe are found in nature. Grand canyons, gigantic mountains, and thundering waterfalls can possess a scale and power that is hard to comprehend.
When an encounter feels so much larger than ourselves, and so far beyond our control, our focus can shift away from self-centred thoughts and worries begin to diminish. This phenomenon is known as the small self, and it’s a mechanism that can help people act more compassionately towards others, as well as boost feelings of positivity.
Awe can also root us firmly in the present moment. Modern life can feel incredibly busy and for many people, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. But by holding us transfixed and mesmerised by what is happening in front of us, awe can elongate our perception of time.
And when we feel like we have more time, we’re more likely to want to acquire new knowledge; we can expand our horizons.
A Daily Experience
It’s even possible to experience small boosts in awe by surrounding ourselves with digital nature, particularly when it depicts rare and fleeting events such as sunrise and sunset.
One recent study showed that viewing awe-inspiring videos of nature on a smartphone, for just one minute a day, could reduce negative thoughts whilst boosting feelings of happiness. Awe, triggered through virtual forms of nature, could even help us to think more flexibly and creatively, a perfect antidote to writer’s block.
These experiences might also increase our curiosity about nature, perhaps prompting us to get outside more and seek these encounters in everyday settings.
Sublime Beauty
But it’s not all good. Awe can often represent an ambivalent, mixed emotion – tinged with feelings of threat, foreboding, and amazement in equal measure.
But this fearsome, hypnotising effect might actually boost feelings of awe: people who are captivated and engrossed in their surroundings are more likely to experience this game-changing emotion.
Intriguingly, when awe is accompanied by threatening feelings, the experience can still encourage people to be prosocial and positive to others. And as long as viewers feel safe, this nervousness can be embraced and even reframed as beautiful.
So how do you unlock the potential of awe? With their fiery volcanoes, molten magma, and cascading waterfalls, our Icelandic portals are a great place to start. And maybe when you have time to venture outside, why not try to catch that sunset? The effects might just be profound.
