The Science of Awe: How Nature, Travel, and New Experiences Build Resilience
Have you ever stood at the edge of a mountain, looked up at a sky full of stars, or walked through a place so rich in history that it made you pause?
Maybe you've wandered through a city you've never visited before. Heard a language you didn't understand. Watched the sun set over the ocean.
Moments like these often leave us with a feeling that's difficult to describe.
Psychologists call it awe.
Awe is the emotional response we experience when we encounter something vast, beautiful, or beyond our usual understanding of the world. While it feels deeply personal, research suggests it also has measurable effects on our minds, bodies, and overall well-being.
It turns out that making time for awe may be one of the simplest ways to strengthen resilience.
What Is Awe?
Researchers Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt describe awe as an emotion that arises when we encounter something that challenges our existing understanding of the world.
That experience encourages us to expand our perspective.
Awe can be found in many places:
Nature
Music
Art
Architecture
Scientific discovery
Acts of kindness
Athletic achievement
Meaningful conversations
It doesn't require traveling halfway around the world.
It requires paying attention.
Awe Changes Perspective
One of the most fascinating findings in awe research is its ability to shift our perspective.
When people experience awe, their own worries often feel smaller.
Not because their problems disappear.
Because their perspective expands.
Research has found that awe can increase feelings of connectedness, gratitude, and life satisfaction while reducing self-focused thinking.
A broader perspective often leads to better decision-making and greater emotional regulation.
Nature Supports Mental Well-Being
Many people experience awe most readily in nature.
Studies have shown that spending time outdoors can:
Reduce stress
Improve mood
Restore attention
Lower mental fatigue
Increase feelings of vitality
Whether it's a forest trail, a mountain overlook, or a neighborhood park, nature provides opportunities to slow down and reconnect with the present moment.
Travel Challenges the Mind in Healthy Ways
One of the things I've appreciated most about living overseas is how often I'm reminded that there are many different ways to live.
Every country has its own customs.
Its own traditions.
Its own way of approaching daily life.
Experiencing those differences encourages curiosity instead of assumption.
It reminds us that our perspective is one perspective—not the only perspective.
That lesson extends well beyond travel.
It strengthens humility, adaptability, and open-mindedness.
Those are all qualities that support resilience.
New Experiences Build Cognitive Flexibility
The brain responds to novelty.
Learning a new skill, exploring a new place, meeting new people, or trying a different activity challenges existing mental patterns.
Over time, these experiences strengthen cognitive flexibility—our ability to adapt our thinking as circumstances change.
People who practice cognitive flexibility often navigate uncertainty more effectively because they're comfortable adjusting their perspective when new information becomes available.
Awe and Resilience
Resilience depends on more than recovering from setbacks.
It also depends on maintaining a perspective that allows us to continue moving forward.
Awe helps create that perspective.
It reminds us:
That life is bigger than today's stress.
That growth often begins with curiosity.
That there is always more to learn.
That beauty exists alongside difficulty.
Those reminders don't remove challenges.
They help us navigate them with greater clarity.
Creating More Awe in Everyday Life
Awe doesn't require an expensive vacation.
It can become part of your weekly routine.
You might:
Watch the sunrise before work.
Visit a museum.
Explore a new hiking trail.
Read about a topic you've never studied.
Attend a local cultural event.
Listen to music that captures your full attention.
Leave your phone behind during a walk and simply observe your surroundings.
Small moments of wonder have a cumulative effect.
The Bigger Picture
One of the three pillars of resilience I often write about is Reasoning.
Reasoning grows through learning, reflection, and exposure to new ideas.
Awe supports each of those.
It encourages curiosity.
It expands perspective.
It reminds us that growth often begins when we step beyond what is familiar.
Sometimes resilience isn't built by pushing harder.
Sometimes it's built by looking up, slowing down, and allowing yourself to be reminded just how much there is to discover.
Reflection Prompt:
When was the last time you experienced a genuine sense of awe, and how did it change the way you viewed your day?
Selected References
Keltner, D., & Haidt, J. (2003). Approaching awe, a moral, spiritual, and aesthetic emotion. Cognition & Emotion.
Stellar, J. E., et al. (2015). Positive affect and markers of inflammation: Discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines. Emotion.
Berman, M. G., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science.
Piff, P. K., et al. (2015). Awe, the small self, and prosocial behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.