That Jaw-Dropping Moment | The Transformative Psychology of Awe & Why You Need to Feel Small

Remember the last time you were truly stopped in your tracks? Maybe it was the sight of a star-dusted sky, far from city lights, or the thunderous sound of a waterfall crashing into a misty abyss. Perhaps it was a piece of music that seemed to rearrange the very atoms in the room. This is the feeling of awe. It’s that jaw-dropping moment when you encounter something so vast that your own concerns and sense of self momentarily fade into the background. But this powerful emotion is more than just a fleeting thrill. Modern psychology reveals that awe is a fundamental human experience with profound, transformative effects on our minds, our relationships, and our overall well-being. This is why you need to feel small.

What is awe? The science of feeling small

For decades, awe was a difficult emotion for science to pin down. It was often lumped in with joy or surprise. However, pioneering researchers like Dr. Dacher Keltner at UC Berkeley have defined awe as an experience triggered by two key perceptions: vastness and a need for accommodation. Vastness isn’t just about physical size; it can be conceptual, like grappling with a complex scientific theory, or social, like witnessing an incredible act of courage. It’s anything that feels overwhelmingly larger than your normal frame of reference.

This perception of vastness leads to the second component: a need for accommodation. The experience is so new and immense that it doesn’t fit into your existing mental structures. Your brain has to scramble to update its understanding of what’s possible. It’s this mental stretching that makes awe so transformative. In that moment, your ego, that nagging inner voice concerned with deadlines, social status, and daily anxieties, takes a backseat. Psychologists call this the “small self,” and it’s not about feeling insignificant. Instead, it’s a liberating shift in perspective from “me” to “we,” realizing you are part of a much larger, interconnected world.

The surprising benefits of a shrunken ego

When your sense of self shrinks, something incredible happens: your connection to everything else grows. The benefits of this shift are not just philosophical; they are tangible and backed by research. Studies have consistently shown that people who experience awe are more generous, more helpful, and more willing to cooperate with others. By quieting our self-interest, awe makes us more prosocial. It reminds us that we are all part of the same vast tapestry.

The mental health benefits are just as compelling. Awe has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety by interrupting the cycle of rumination—that pattern of getting stuck on negative, self-focused thoughts. It acts as a mental reset button. This is because awe can reduce activity in the brain’s default mode network, the hub of self-referential thinking. Furthermore, awe can alter our perception of time, making us feel less rushed and more present. When faced with the timelessness of a mountain range or the expansive night sky, our personal deadlines suddenly seem much less urgent.

Finding your daily dose of jaw-dropping moments

You don’t need to book a trip to the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest to experience awe. This powerful emotion is available to us every day, if we only know where to look. Cultivating awe is a practice of shifting your attention from your screen to the world around you. It’s about rediscovering a sense of wonder in the ordinary and extraordinary alike.

Here are a few ways to invite more awe into your life:

• Look to nature: Go for a walk without your phone and pay attention. Notice the intricate patterns on a leaf, the way the light filters through the trees, or the sheer scale of a thunderstorm rolling in. Nature is a readily available source of awe.
• Engage with art and music: Visit a museum and stand before a massive painting. Put on headphones and listen to a powerful piece of classical music or an epic film score. Art created by human hands can be just as vast and mind-expanding as any natural wonder.
• Seek collective effervescence: Experience the awe of being part of a crowd. Go to a concert, a sporting event, or a community gathering. The feeling of shared emotion and being part of something larger than yourself is a potent form of awe.
• Explore big ideas: Read about a complex scientific discovery, watch a documentary about the universe, or learn about a historical figure who changed the world. Intellectual awe can stretch your mind in profound ways.

Awe is a vital human need. In a world that constantly encourages us to focus on ourselves—our goals, our brands, our problems—the experience of awe offers a powerful antidote. It’s a jaw-dropping, perspective-shifting moment that reminds us we are a small part of something magnificent. By shrinking our ego, awe expands our capacity for kindness, creativity, and connection. It reduces stress and enhances our well-being. So, make a conscious effort to find it. Look up at the clouds, listen closely to a symphony, or simply marvel at the complexity of the world. Embracing the feeling of being small might just be the biggest thing you can do for yourself.

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