Why are Awe and Wonder Important?

Wonder isn’t just something that people have come up with recently to better their lives. Wonder is theorized to serve as an evolutionary advantage (Konner, 2003). Evolutionary biologist Harold Bauer conducted research on the social behaviors of chimpanzees in Tanzania, and during his research, Bauer noted that one chimpanzee would swing through the lush forest to gaze at a twenty-five-foot waterfall (Konner, 2003). Now, this waterfall wasn’t a source of drinking water nor a place the chimpanzees needed to pass through for their daily routes of foraging. In fact, it was out of the way for any survival needs. Other chimpanzees even started joining in. Every day, the chimpanzees would repeat this endeavor. Now why would these chimpanzees make the waterfall a priority in their daily routine? You guessed it—to seek out wonder. Biologist and anthropologist Melvin Konner (2003) suggests one of our human ancestors came upon an awe-inspiring scene of the wide ocean horizon or a cascading waterfall and had the irresistible urge to stop and take in the view. This natural response is in every human being, even in infancy, where life is full of wide-eyed wonder (Konner, 2003). This awe-inducing sensation of experiencing the vastness of the waterfall allowed the chimpanzee to engage in a wonder-filled moment. The chimpanzee was able to be open to its surroundings and take in the moment. Even in the beginning, wonder is part of our very being; it’s what makes life worth living. We are wired for wonder, yet, our world is turning further and further away from the very thing we are drawn to.

Western cultures tend to praise hyper-productivity (Paquette, 2020). In an annual study on Americans’ vacation habits, millennials wanted to be seen as “work martyrs” by their bosses (“The Work Martyr’s Cautionary Tale: How the Millennial Experience Will Define America’s Vacation Culture,” 2016). People are constantly seeking ways to move up the ladder of work, reputation, and life in general. This ideal of having fame and fortune can seem great, yet, it usually leads to burnout and keeps people stuck in the rat race of life (Paquette, 2020). However, wonder helps one to be in a non-bustling, non-analytical, receptive state (Davis, 2021). It allows people to take a break. Many emotions and feelings can attract (such as love) or repel (such as fear), but wonder simply pauses us in openness. Also, wonder fuels connection, creativity, resilience, helps us be less materialistic, more altruistic, more humble, improves critical thinking and problem solving, makes us feel more satisfied in general, reduces our stress levels, and more (Davis, 2021; Paquette, 2020). Wonder helps one to thrive, rather than just survive.

Not to mention, when Keltner (2023) was producing studies all over the world and found the “Eight Wonders of Life,” no one mentioned money, their laptop or phone, Facebook, a new Tesla, a Gucci bag, or other things of the sort. The materialistic things people spend most of their time with or wanting did not make the cut in what people actually treasured in their lives (Keltner, 2023). Awe and wonder occur in a realm separate from materialistic chasing, money-praising, and status-signaling. The realm of awe and wonder promotes true well-being, and many consider this realm sacred.

Not only are there psychological effects of wonder, but there are physical effects as well (Davis, 2021). I’m going to give you another quick biology lesson, but I promise it will be worth it. The human body has two main parts to the autonomic (or automatic) nervous system: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system is part of your “flight or flight” response. Heart racing, sweaty palms, and increased respiration are all physical aspects of the sympathetic nervous system. But what makes this system turn on? Well, since it is your flight or fight response, anything that is a potential threat will trigger your sympathetic nervous system. It doesn’t have to be a lion chasing you through the savanna to activate this system; having to meet a deadline, racing through the airport to catch a flight, and asking someone on a date are all stress-inducing things that will amp up this response. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system is your “rest and digest” system. This system kicks in when you are feeling secure and safe, such as when relaxing on the couch, going on a peaceful walk, or sharing a meal with a loved one. This system basically does the opposite of the sympathetic nervous system: slowing down heart rate, breathing, and taking care of long-term projects such as digestion and immune system activation. So, what’s the point of this biology lesson? Well, in today’s fast-paced, bustling, and stressful world, one’s sympathetic nervous system is engaged for long periods of time. Having this system activated for too long correlates with chronic stress, health problems, and many other issues (Davis, 2021). The good news is that experiencing wonder activates the parasympathetic nervous system: wonder widens the pupils, throws our mouths agape, and puts our brains in a receptive state (Davis, 2021). By shutting down the worried, stressed, and tense state of your brain, awe and wonder can help you physically relax and calm down racing thoughts as well. Overall, awe and wonder are highly beneficial for your mental and physical health.

VIDEOS

Jane Goodall: Waterfall Display

Dacher Keltner: Why Awe is Such an Important Emotion