Embrace Wonder: A Fresh Start for the New Year in Community Living!

I don’t consider myself an adept clairvoyant. Nonetheless, I can make one forecast about 2025 with considerable confidence: It promises to be a tumultuous year. Those among us who cherish fairness, equality, racial and spiritual unity, along with the welfare of animals and our planet, will be severely challenged in our efforts to uphold these principles.

It is crucial to engage in self-care as we “strive for justice.” Individuals of faith will undoubtedly lean on prayer and meditation for sustenance. Beyond these two practices, there exists another that can be extraordinarily beneficial – aiming to experience awe.

Awe is a fundamental aspect of all religions, and the connection between the two has been thoroughly examined by theologians and scholars for centuries. Further exploration of this topic exceeds the limits of this column.

Over the past 15 years, however, awe has captured the interest of social scientists, psychologists, and various other academicians, leading to the emergence of a new “science of awe.” I was unaware of the meticulous methods by which awe has been investigated until I came across Dacher Keltner’s book, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder, published in 2023. Keltner is a prominent figure in this domain. His research has produced significant insights, some of which are shared below.

Keltner posits that we all possess an intrinsic need for awe embedded within our brains and bodies. I prefer to think of this need as a sort of divine guiding instinct. Additional remarks about awe from his book include: “Awe is the sensation of being in the presence of something immense that goes beyond your current perception of the world.” Another statement reads, “Awe exists in a domain separated from the ordinary world of materialism, wealth, acquisition, and status, indicating a sphere beyond the mundane that many refer to as the sacred.”

So, what advantages do we gain from experiencing awe? Why should we actively seek it? A partial compilation of the confirmed benefits from research includes alleviating our internal critic, opening our minds to marvels, enabling us to discern intricate patterns of life, and enhancing our awareness of being part of something larger than ourselves. There are even physiological advantages to the “awe experience,” such as a soothing of the nervous system, reduction in blood pressure, and heightened oxytocin secretion. Some researchers even claim that awe can diminish inflammation within the body.

Clearly, if we can encounter this profound sensation of awe on a daily basis, we will improve our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness, allowing us not merely to endure the world’s challenges but also to flourish as we endeavor to enhance the circumstances around us.

If awe entails “being in the presence of something immense,” how can we experience it regularly? Some peak instances of awe indeed involve vast physical realms. One of my unforgettable experiences of awe happened in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona, where the silence felt somehow spiritual and as expansive as the desert itself. “Vast,” however, may also relate to the mysteries of nature revealed in small yet meaningful ways. It can encompass the greatness of human achievement illustrated in the elegance of music, poetry, dance, monumental works of art and architecture, etc.

2025 is approaching! Prepare for it by introducing a little awe into your everyday life. If possible, carve out some time for solitude. Switch off electronic devices. Take a walk; notice the buds forming on the trees even amidst the depth of winter. Observe the outlines of the bare tree branches against the winter sky. Allow yourself to embrace the oranges and pinks of breathtaking winter sunsets. Watch how a solitary raindrop navigates down your windowpane. Immerse your entire being in your favorite tunes, whether it’s Bach or the Beatles, Barbra Streisand or the blues. Reflect and meditate upon cherished passages from your faith’s scriptures. Delve into images sent from the James Webb space telescope. Sources of awe are all around us, even on the dreariest of days. Discover and nurture those that resonate most profoundly with your spirit. 2025 may indeed be tumultuous, but it can also be awe-inspiring!

Nancy Flood-Golembeck is a retired educator and a longstanding member of the Baha’i Faith. Besides participating on the local Baha’i governing body, she is currently working on a memoir.