The Healing Power of Awe: Why Adults Need It Now More Than Ever

As children, awe came naturally. We marveled at clouds shaped like dragons, stared wide-eyed at fireflies, and gasped at the vastness of the night sky. But somewhere along the way—between deadlines, laundry, and life’s relentless to-do list—many of us stopped noticing the wonders around us.  

Yet awe is not a frivolous emotion. It’s a powerful, necessary experience—especially for adults. It quiets our minds, slows our breath, and recalibrates our nervous systems. In fact, science shows that awe can decrease stress, reduce inflammation, and promote feelings of connection and well-being.

What Is Awe, Really?
Awe is that feeling you get when you're faced with something vast or beautiful that transcends your understanding—like standing beneath a waterfall, watching a sunrise over the mountains, or hearing a child say something unexpectedly wise. It pulls us out of our heads and into the present moment, often leaving us speechless and still.

Unlike excitement or joy, awe has a grounding, even humbling effect. It reminds us that we are part of something bigger than ourselves. In our overstimulated, hyperconnected world, this is precisely the reset our bodies and minds are craving.

Awe and the Nervous System
When we experience awe, our parasympathetic nervous system—the part responsible for rest and repair—is activated. Heart rate slows. Breathing deepens. Cortisol (the stress hormone) drops. We move from a state of fight-or-flight into one of calm and openness.

Awe also triggers the release of oxytocin and dopamine, those feel-good chemicals that foster trust and joy. And it can shrink our sense of ego, making us feel more connected to others, to nature, and to something greater.

Why Adults Need Awe
As adults, we often think we've seen it all. We get stuck in routines, desensitized to beauty, and dulled by constant stimulation. But awe can reawaken a sense of vitality and creativity. It reminds us that wonder is still available—right outside our door or even in a breath.

Awe helps us remember. Remember that life is mysterious. That the world is still good. That we don’t have to have it all figured out. And that simply being alive is, in itself, miraculous.

Join Me for a Weekly Dose of Awe

If your soul is craving a pause—a moment to reconnect with the wonder around and within you—I invite you to join me for a free weekly Sit Spot practice.

🌀 Wednesdays at 6:30pm EST on Zoom

Each 30-minute session includes a short breathing practice, guided nature-based meditation, a moment of quiet reflection, and a closing poem—all designed to help you reconnect with awe, presence, and peace.
No experience needed. Just bring your breath, a comfortable seat (indoors or outside), and an open heart.

✨ Register once and drop in any week – It’s free, it’s nourishing, and it might just shift the way you see your world.

Click here to receive the Zoom link for the Sit Spot practice

Let’s cultivate awe together—one breath, one moment, one Wednesday at a time.