A regular dose of awe is good for our mental health, according to experts. Being in nature has always been known to have therapeutic effects, but awe has a separate therapeutic effect from nature itself.

It may be because of the humbling effect of awe. We suddenly realize how tiny we are compared to the vastness of the Creator, his Creation and the Universe. We wonder, if in the grand scheme of things, do we even matter. And that allows us to take ourselves a little less seriously. The things we were stressing over just a few moments ago, seem insignificant. Our ego, our pride, our reputation, our resentments, our hurts, all seem insignificant.

Why hold on to anything that makes us and others feel bad? Why make life hard for ourselves and others because we thought we and the work we do is more important? We are not more important than anyone else. Our work is not more important than other people. We are all equally insignificant in front of the wonder and vastness of the Universe and its Creator.

And yet, the beauty and vastness that invoked the awe and wonder in us also wakes up a sense of “anything is possible in this wonderous and gorgeous universe”. Life no longer seems difficult and stressful and hopeless. A new sense of possibilities and hope and peace enters our hearts.

And the humbling and hopeful effect of awe and wonder acts as a balm on our hearts, in our relationships and on our soul and spirit, for many days and weeks to come.

Travel is not the only way to feel awe and wonder. When we are truly present in the moment, we can feel awe when we look at a beautiful bird that has sat on our window-sill, or a butterfly sitting on a flower. We can feel awe while touching the bark of a tree that has lived for decades or centuries. Or a building with immense attention to detail and beauty. Or taking the bite of a delicious cake a loved one has baked.

We can access awe in many many ways, if we only stop and really see the people before us, the things before us. If we stop and truly notice the beauty and wonder that exists in even the smallest things around us.

Bring some awe into your life. And see your life slowly change. 🙂