Mental Vitamin #11

Find Something Bigger Than Yourself

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Expand Your Mind: How Awe Reshapes the Brain

Standing beneath a sky full of stars.

Listening to a powerful piece of music.

Watching the ocean stretch beyond the horizon.

Some experiences leave us momentarily speechless. They make us feel small, yet strangely connected to something larger than ourselves. Psychologists call this emotion awe, a feeling of wonder that arises when we encounter something vast, unexpected, or deeply beautiful.

Far from being a fleeting emotion, awe can transform how we think, feel, and relate to the world.

The Neuroscience of Wonder: How Awe Changes the Mind

Awe occurs when the brain encounters something that challenges its existing mental models. In response, it enters a state of heightened openness and curiosity, encouraging us to update our understanding of the world.

Neuroscience research suggests that awe reduces activity in brain networks associated with self-focused thinking, particularly regions linked to the Default Mode Network (DMN). This network is active when we ruminate, worry about ourselves, or replay past and future events.

When awe quiets this self-referential chatter, attention shifts outward. People often report feeling more connected to others, more present in the moment, and less preoccupied with their own concerns.

Studies have also linked awe to increased wellbeing, greater life satisfaction, enhanced prosocial behaviour, and lower perceived stress. In other words, moments of wonder can act as a natural reset for the mind.

Awe doesn't require extraordinary circumstances. It can emerge through nature, art, science, music, acts of kindness, or simply witnessing something that reminds us how much there is still to discover.

A Smaller Self, A Bigger World

One of the most fascinating effects of awe is what researchers call the "small self" phenomenon.

During awe experiences, people often feel less absorbed by their individual worries and more connected to a broader reality. This doesn't diminish the self, but it places it within a larger perspective.

Paradoxically, feeling smaller can make life feel richer. Problems that once seemed overwhelming may appear more manageable when viewed against the vastness of nature, history, or the universe itself.

Awe expands perspective by shrinking the boundaries of the self.

Conclusion

Seek moments that make you pause. Watch a sunset. Visit a museum. Listen closely to a symphony. Look up at the night sky.

Wonder is a powerful mental vitamin that reminds the brain there is always something larger than its daily concerns.

Sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do for your mind

is stand in awe of the world.