Awe
Mascari, Brooke. October 21st, 2024.
In our last article about the vagus nerve and the healing that can be attained from it, we touched on the importance of experiencing awe to stimulate the vagus nerve. Recall that the vagus nerve regulates the nervous system and calms the body, resulting in the healing state of homeostasis - the rest and digest state.
Awe can be difficult to discuss and understand as we all experience awe differently. The Oxford Dictionary defines awe as, “a feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder.” But awe can also be a feeling of bliss that goes beyond the description of language. Sometimes in a moment of awe, we stand still in time, completely enraptured in the wonderment of the moment. Awe is created within us when we experience the sublime; something of outstanding beauty, surprise, or genius.
Abraham Joshua Heschel describes awe in this way, “Awe enables us to see in the world intonations of the Divine. To sense in small things the beginning of infinite significance. To sense the ultimate in the common and in the simple. To feel in the rush of the passing, the stillness of the eternal.”
Research shows us that regular experiences of awe have significant impacts on our well-being; helping us to feel more content, joyful, calm, and connected.
Let’s explore awe in this moment and cultivate some awe within us now.
Take in a few deep slow breaths through the nose and out through the mouth to clear any tension or energy that needs to be released.
What is something in the past that stopped you in your tracks and filled you with awe? A brilliant sunrise over the mountains? A flock of birds in perfect formation flying across the sky? A tree so tall it reaches above the forest canopy? A newborn baby entering the world? A meteor shower in the night sky?
Allow the sense of awe to expand in your mind, awakening wonder, gratitude, and reverence.
What is something that evokes awe within you regularly? A pink sunset? A good book or piece of poetry? A leaf blowing across your windshield as it floats to the ground? A child’s hand in yours? Your favorite song or the sound of the birds in the morning? Your favorite piece of artwork or architecture?
Allow yourself to feel gratitude for these regular moments; for the beauty of our world. Place your hand on your chest and allow gratitude to well up within you for a moment as you offer thankfulness for the small yet incredible things in life. Express appreciation for the awesome things around us daily that sometimes go unnoticed.
John Milton states, “Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies; those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life in the world.”
Today, remember that there are everyday moments of awe that are available. Allow gratitude for these moments to grow your appreciation for life and the infinite blessings all around us that the world offers up. See if you can be in your moments of awe; allowing the healing properties to envelop and refresh you.
