The Emotions Library project is a collection of stories about the emotion(s) we experience. Stories bring meaning and clarity, helping us understand our emotions better. We do this so everyone can access knowledge, gain emotional literacy, and develop self-awareness. Today, we’re exploring one of the most profound and purposeful emotions we can experience: awe.
Experiencing awe is more than admiration—it's an emotional signal, pointing to something extraordinary beyond our usual understanding. It invites us to pause, be present, and appreciate life's vastness and beauty, revealing the interconnectedness of all things.
Awe reminds us of our capacity for wonder and curiosity, sparking a desire to explore, learn, and reflect. Whether inspired by nature, art, or human connection, it encourages humility and helps us focus on what truly matters.
Story: Feeling deeply impressed by something magnificent.
Impulse: Pause and admire.
Etymology: From Old Norse agi, meaning fright, and Middle English striken, meaning to strike.
Purpose: Awe connects us with something greater, inspiring humility.
Emotional Regulation and Journaling
In partnership with Calm3D, we provide a supportive space for emotional regulation, guiding you to cultivate peace, balance, and clarity as you navigate your emotional experiences, particularly moments of awe and self-reflection.
Visit www.playcalm3d.com to create time and space for journaling, reconnecting with your emotions, and practicing emotional balance to find calm and meaning in life’s most profound moments.
Reflective Questions
1. What about this experience feels most awe-inspiring?
2. How does awe change your perspective on life or yourself?
3. Who could you share this experience with to amplify its impact?
Let’s explore how awe manifests, why it’s essential, and how we can embrace it to make it a source of inspiration and connection rather than overwhelm.
Feeling Deeply Impressed by Something Magnificent
Frances zipped her jacket tighter against the cold as she wandered far from the warmth of the cabin. The glow of the fireplace and the hum of her friends’ conversation felt distant now. She was drawn outside by a feeling she couldn’t quite name, a restless pull toward the stillness of the forest. When she reached the clearing, she tilted her head back and saw them.
The stars.
The night sky stretched endlessly, glittering with an uncountable array of lights. Frances had seen stars before—faint pinpricks of light peeking through the haze of city pollution. But this was different. This was the Milky Way in all its glory, cutting through the sky like a shimmering river of light. The vastness of it was overwhelming. She stood frozen, the cold forgotten, as she tried to take it all in.
Each star felt like a miracle, a sun burning in the distance. Some of the light she saw had traveled for millions of years just to reach her eyes. She marveled at the sheer scale of the universe, her thoughts drifting to the planets and unknown possibilities that could exist around every one of those distant suns. It was a moment that made her feel small, but not unimportant. Instead, she felt connected—like a tiny thread woven into the fabric of something infinite.
Frances realized she wasn’t thinking about her deadlines, her to-do lists, or the worries that had consumed her earlier that day. All of it seems so trivial now. Her mind wasn’t buzzing with thoughts; it was quiet, focused only on the immensity of the night sky above her.
She wished she could capture the moment and share it with someone. She wanted to say, Look at this. Isn’t it incredible? But at the same time, she knew that no words or photos could do it justice. Some moments, like this one, can only be felt.
Eventually, she turned back toward the cabin, her fingers tingling from the cold, but her heart warm with the memory. She’d try to explain the feeling to her friends, though she doubted they would fully understand. And that was okay. For Frances, standing beneath that symphony of stars, simply being awestruck was enough.
Impulse: The Pause to Feel and Admire
Awe has a unique power—it commands attention. When Frances saw the stars, her immediate reaction was to pause. It's the instinctive impulse of awe: stop, admire, absorb. In a world where we rush from task to task, awe invites us to linger, to fully immerse ourselves in a single, magnificent moment.
This pause isn’t passive; it’s active engagement. It’s the act of surrendering to something greater, of allowing yourself to feel the magnitude of what you’re witnessing. In these pauses, time seems to stretch, and we are reminded of the beauty and wonder often hidden in the everyday.
When we honor this impulse, we create space for reflection, gratitude, and connection. By pausing to admire the extraordinary, we become more present and attuned to life’s profound moments.
The Origins of 'Awestruck'
The word “awestruck” has ancient roots in the Old Norse agi, meaning fright or dread, and the Middle English striken, meaning to strike. Together, they paint a vivid picture of the awe experience: it strikes us, leaving us momentarily stunned, breathless, and overwhelmed.
This etymology reminds us that awe is not always gentle or comforting. It carries an intensity, a sense of being humbled before something vast and uncontrollable. Whether it’s a towering thunderstorm, the quiet immensity of a desert, or the delicate beauty of a spider’s web, awe often combines admiration with reverence—and sometimes even a touch of fear.
In Frances’s case, the stars struck her with their sheer immensity, reminding her of both the vastness of the universe and her small but meaningful place within it. Awe isn’t just about beauty; it’s about power, scale, and the sublime.
Purpose: Awe’s Transformative Power
Awe connects us to something greater than ourselves. As Frances stood beneath the stars, her focus shifted outward—from her worries to the grandeur of the universe. This is awe’s purpose: to remind us of the interconnectedness of life and to inspire humility.
Research shows that awe has a profound impact on our well-being. It fosters gratitude, enhances creativity, and encourages prosocial behaviors like kindness and generosity. When we experience awe, we step outside our concerns and see the world through a broader, more connected lens.
For Frances, awe transformed a restless night into a moment of clarity. She returned to the cabin not just with a memory of the stars, but with a sense of peace and perspective that stayed with her long after.
Awe isn’t just about feeling small—it’s about recognizing that smallness as part of a vast, meaningful whole.
Emotional Literacy: Recognizing Awe in Your Life
Awe is a complex emotion, blending wonder, admiration, and humility. By cultivating emotional literacy—the ability to identify and understand our feelings—we can better recognize and savor awe when it arises.
Notice your body’s reaction. Awe often creates physical sensations: a tingling in your chest, goosebumps, or a deep inhale. These are clues that you’re experiencing something extraordinary.
Name the emotion. Saying, “I feel awestruck” helps solidify the experience in your mind, allowing you to reflect on and revisit it later.
Allow the moment to linger. Resist the urge to move on too quickly. Stay with the feeling, letting it unfold fully.
Express it. Whether through journaling, photography, or conversation, sharing your experience deepens its impact. Emotional literacy isn’t just about understanding your feelings; it’s about using them to connect with others and the world around you.
Reflective Questions
What about this experience feels most awe-inspiring?
Is it the sheer scale, like Frances’s view of the stars, or the intricate beauty of something smaller? Reflecting on the source of your awe helps anchor the experience.
Emotional Literacy: Recognizing Awe in Your Life How does awe change your perspective on life or yourself?
Awe shifts our focus from the micro to the macro, helping us see the bigger picture and reframe our worries. What clarity did you gain from your moment of awe?
Who could you share this experience with to amplify its impact?
Sharing awe turns it into a shared memory. Who in your life would appreciate the wonder you felt?
Final Thoughts
Awe doesn’t always come from grand moments like Frances’s starry night. It can be found in every day: a moving piece of music, the laughter of a loved one, or the colors of a sunset. By slowing down and opening ourselves to the beauty around us, we can experience awe in its many forms.
When was the last time you felt awestruck? Take a moment to recall it, reflect on its impact, and seek out more opportunities for awe in your daily life. Awe isn’t just an emotion; it’s a gateway to wonder, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the world we inhabit.
If Frances’s experience of awe resonates with you and you’re ready to deepen your emotional connection, explore Emoli Cards. These cards help you identify and articulate emotions like awe, wonder, and humility, guiding you toward greater clarity and appreciation in your emotional journey.
For personalized support, book an Emotions-Based Coaching session. Together, we’ll explore your feelings, celebrate your moments of awe, and uncover pathways to greater self-awareness and connection. Take the first step toward emotional resilience and empowerment today!
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