Awe // The Art of Noticing

I recently stumbled upon a podcast “Living in Awe and Wonder with David Keltner” from Am I Doing It Wrong? I’m going to butcher this summary so you should just listen to the podcast, but I’ll try my best. 

David Keltner is a social psychologist who studies the emotion “awe.” From hundreds of studies, he concluded that awe can be found by the 8 wonders of life, which are: collective movement, life and death, big ideas, music, visual design, spirituality, nature, and my personal favorite, moral beauty. He talks about the benefits of awe and how easily we can experience it (listen to it). 

I had tears in my eyes the entire time the podcast was playing, which ironically is a sign of awe. I thought it was so beautiful that this overlooked emotion is so powerful and can add another form of meaning to our lives. I started reflecting on my life, and felt an immense amount of gratitude for it, as it has been flooded with awe. The most interesting part for me was that awe is most commonly found in little moments, like hearing children laugh, acts of kindness, listening to a song, and observing nature. These aspects of life might seem insignificant, however, they do add up and can make you recognize beauty often, and have more appreciation for the world around you. 

I originally had been planning on writing a post about the art of noticing, which I have now discovered is a key aspect of awe. I got this idea from one of my friends I met this summer in Wyoming, Nate Lackey. Nate is one of the most observant people I’ve ever met, as he was constantly scanning the ground in search of new flora to add to his collection. When everyone was looking up at the dramatic and vast Tetons, he was always in the dirt, focused on the small, yet equally beautiful intricate details. I distinctly remember this about him when we went hiking with our friend Will. Will was gunning forward, trying to get to the peak before the afternoon thunderstorms, while Nate was way behind looking at the plants. I was dead in the center and genuinely didn’t know whether to rush to the front or take it slow and soak in my surroundings. I am very time-oriented, like Will, but was able to see the benefits of strolling through like Nate had always done. His wonder was contagious, and because of him, I too stopped focusing on the big picture and paid attention to what was harder to see. Reflecting on that now, he gained so much awe from his findings, and without even trying brought me a tremendous amount of it. 

Going back to school after this summer and leaving an environment where awe can be experienced the second you walk outside was a bigger transition than I thought it would be. School has shown me that we live in a distraction culture that robs us of finding potential awe. I’ve noticed how people resort to their phones while waiting in line, eating, before class, etc. I am no saint and definitely guilty of this, but reminding myself of what I learned this summer has made me find more awe in everyday things. If we paid more attention to what was in front of us, we could fill our days with more awe and recognize beauty effortlessly in the ordinary. 

I think I discovered this concept at the perfect time. Rather than focusing on the little moments that have made up my life, I tend to generalize them and create categories of what I think have been the most monumental parts: being a twin, my time at camp, Alzar, abroad, college, and my relationships. It is easy to accredit who I am to those categories, however taking a step back has made me rethink my life and see how every part has been awe-inspiring in a unique way because of the smaller moments embedded in them. 

Hearing my loved ones' laughter, being sent a song when someone is thinking of me, feeling embraced, admiring a piece of art, recognizing growth, watching a family interact, learning about someone's passions, making someone laugh, doing something creative, being outside, sharing stories, writing and receiving letters, star gazing, being in love, making breakfast, sharing headphones, and the way I think about things brings me awe. I wouldn’t have this perspective if it wasn’t for the bigger events that I have experienced, but they have shown me in a weird way that less is more. 

I feel like I end all my blogs the same way, and still, I’m extremely grateful. My effort in noticing has made me admire the ignored and has given my life meaning in a way that is slow and intentional. I encourage you to find awe in the overlooked, as it might enrich your perspective and radiate more light into your life. 

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4W8ymdLCGn6Tpin4gPcRvn?si=fb677e91d8ab4e6c

Maya Kollme 10/30/24