Make Room for Awe

Two weeks ago in a group meeting of The Practice, we explored one of the most powerful emotions for our well-being: awe.

Awe is what we feel when we experience something so beautiful, vast, or extraordinary that it pulls us out of our own heads and into the moment.

And summer is full of it.

Flowers in full bloom. A sweeping beach landscape. Stars filling the night sky. A firepit glowing after dark. The view from the top of a mountain. Birds singing at dawn. A winding trail beside a gurgling river. A sunrise—or sunset—that makes you stop and look.

Science suggests that awe can:

• Reduce stress and improve well-being. Awe helps shift our attention away from daily worries and gives us a broader perspective.

• Support physical health. Greater experiences of awe have been associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers.

• Build connections. Awe can make us feel part of something larger, increasing generosity, compassion, and connection to others.

As summer winds down, look for the moments that make you pause.

​Step outside. Look up. Listen closely. Let yourself be amazed.

Awe is everywhere—but we have to slow down long enough to notice it.

💙 Collins, Jill, Susan