Awe by Dacher Keltner

Awe is one of those ideas that sounds soft until you actually pay attention to what it does to a human life. Dacher Keltner makes a simple case that hits hard. Awe is not a luxury. It is fuel. When we stand in front of a painting that takes our breath away, when a song reaches something ancient in us, when nature leaves us quiet, the shift is real. Our nervous system settles. Our stress drops. We stop obsessing over our little world and remember we’re part of something bigger. If you’ve ever felt that moment on a hike, or in a museum, or watching a child do something remarkable, you already know what he means. Awe reminds us that there is more to life than algorithms, deadlines, and doomscrolling.

What struck me most is that awe is not rare. We just fail to notice it. Keltner shows that awe shows up in everyday life if we look for it. A great teacher. A choir. A surprising act of kindness. A piece of architecture designed with intention. When people experience more awe, they feel less alone, more connected, more open to others. It makes us calmer, kinder, and more resilient. If we are serious about living a great life, we need to build awe into our days instead of waiting for it to show up once a year on vacation. Awe is not an escape from reality. It is what makes reality worth living.