Awesome! It is one of the most overused words in the English language. We use it to describe something great or something we are in agreement with – a job well done, an accomplishment.
But according to dictionary.com, awesome was first used in the late 16th century to describe “to be filled with awe” which is an entirely different meaning of how we use “awesome” today.
Gazing over the Grand Canyon gives us a feeling of awe over its beauty and enormous scale. We feel small and insignificant in comparison. Despite this, we have a feeling of being connected with what we are seeing as we shift from inward towards ourselves to outward and being a part of what we see. Our sense of self-importance is diminished, but in a unique way that does not make us feel less valued or like we have a lower social status.
It turns out there is also a link between the emotion awe and our mental and physical well-being
As we know, our mental well-being is an essential component of our overall wellness. People who are negative often have a compromised immune system, have greater anxiety, and can have a shortened life span. People who have a more optimistic outlook tend to have a better quality of life, higher energy levels, and recover from injury and illness quicker.
The emotion of awe affects us physiologically. A study conducted by Jennifer Stellar, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto found that among positive emotions, awe was the strongest predictor of low pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, a key indicator of good health.
What is so awesome about the emotion of awe is it not only produces positive physiological effects, but positive social aspects as well. Paul Piff, Associate Professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine conducted an experiment where he took students to a spot on the UC Berkley campus. Some students were directed to look up at a grove of tall eucalyptus trees for one minute and others to look at the side of a tall building. Students who looked at the massive eucalyptus trees reported feeling more awe than the students who looked at the tall building. Piff then purposefully dropped a box of pens as he walked by the students. The students who were awe-inspired by looking at the eucalyptus trees picked up far more pens than the students who had looked up at the building[i]. Results concluded those who experienced awe more often behaved more generously, even after taking the emotions of compassion and love into consideration.
What creates a feeling of awe is different for everyone. It could be gazing at the stars at night. Witnessing a baby’s first steps. One’s faith. Watching Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos catapult to the edges of space in their space planes. Witnessing an act of selflessness can create a feeling of awe.
Awe has been shown to be the strongest positive emotion to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines. Awe evokes a feeling of interconnectedness with others. We feel a part of something much larger than ourselves. We think less about ourselves and more about others.
What elicits a feeling of awe in you? If we take time to pause, we will see that awe surrounds us. Discover your awe and reap all it has to offer.
[i] Hoffman, A. (2015, August 3). How Awe Makes Us More Generous. Greater Good Magazine.
