The Power of Awe: A Leadership and Life Superpower
I am currently experiencing a lot of awe. Perhaps it’s because I’m surrounded by vast mountains, pristine lakes, and breathtaking landscapes whilst visiting Tyroll. Being in nature seems to be the easiest and most accessible way to evoke this powerful emotion. It stops me in my tracks, expands my perspective, and makes me feel both small and deeply connected at the same time.
But I don’t always have access to dramatic landscapes, so at home, I’ve built a practice to train my awe muscle—I run a daily awe Instagram account where I post a photo of something that symbolises my experience of awe that day. It forces me to slow down, notice, and appreciate the extraordinary within the ordinary.
What is Awe?
Awe is one of those emotions that escapes definition but is unmistakable when we feel it. It’s the goosebumps moment, the bigger-than-me feeling, the sense of wonder, connection, and vastness.
Psychologist Dacher Keltner describes it as:
"The feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends your current understanding of the world."
We often think of awe as rare, something reserved for standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon or watching the Northern Lights. But research shows we experience awe multiple times a week, and it has profound benefits for our mental, physical, and leadership well-being.
The Science of Awe: Why It’s Good for Us
Awe isn’t just a pleasant feeling, it has tangible effects on our minds and bodies:
🔹 Reduces Stress: Awe lowers cortisol, our primary stress hormone, helping to reduce anxiety and increase calm.
🔹 Improves Health: Studies show that experiencing awe reduces inflammation and boosts immune function.
🔹 Expands Perspective: Awe shifts our focus from “me” to “we,” making us more humble, empathetic, and connected.
🔹 Boosts Creativity: Experiencing awe opens the mind, helping us think in bigger, more innovative ways.
🔹 Enhances Leadership: Leaders who cultivate awe are more ethical, inspiring, and visionary.
And most importantly? It makes us happier.
The Eight Wonders of Life: How to Find More Awe
Dr Dacher Keltner identifies eight ways we commonly experience awe. When I read them, I realised how present these moments have been in my own life. Here are my personal examples:
1️⃣ Moral Beauty: awe from witnessing acts of courage, kindness, or human excellence
I experience this watching my friend Natalie, who regularly collects food and clothing for people experiencing homelessness. Her quiet, consistent generosity is awe-inspiring.
2️⃣ Collective Effervescence: the electricity of a group moving in harmony
Last year, at Wembley Stadium (also with Natalie!), watching Blur perform their first-ever show there! The energy of 80,000 people singing in unison was palpable. It was bigger than music: it was connection, nostalgia, and pure magic.
3️⃣ Nature: the vastness and beauty of the natural world
Paddling through the majestic Norwegian fjords on my SUP expeditions - completely immersed in nature’s power - was a visceral experience of awe. The stillness, the scale, the raw beauty. Unforgettable. One of my favourite places on earth.
4️⃣ Music: the emotional power of sound
Listening to “The Power is Here Now” by Alexia Chellun, a song that somehow moves me beyond words. Some music feels like it unlocks something deep inside us, and this song does it for me.
5️⃣ Visual Art & Design: the mastery of human creativity
Standing in the Seagram Murals Room at Tate Modern for the first time sent chills down my spine. The way Rothko’s work made me feel something before I even understood it—pure awe.
6️⃣ Spiritual or Religious Experiences: feeling connected to something greater
Attending a six-day silent retreat at Sharpham House was deeply grounding. The act of being in silence with others, simply witnessing life unfold, was a profound and awe-inspiring experience.
7️⃣ Life & Death: moments of transition that take our breath away
Witnessing my dad’s final moments was filled with deep sadness, reverence, and an overwhelming sense of awe. It was a reminder of the mystery of existence and the sacredness of life itself.
8️⃣ Epiphanies & Big Ideas: awe in sudden realisation
The realisation that happiness is now, not somewhere in the future. That it’s not a destination, but a series of small, beautiful moments woven together. This shift in perspective changed everything for me.
Bringing Awe into Leadership & Work
Awe isn’t just for personal moments. It can (and should) be a leadership superpower.
Here’s why awe makes better leaders:
✅ It reduces ego and increases humility
✅ It fosters creativity and visionary thinking
✅ It makes us more open to feedback and learning
✅ It strengthens team bonds and creates inspiring cultures
✅ It helps us zoom out and see the bigger picture
And most importantly, awe makes leadership about something bigger than ourselves.
Actionable Practice: Cultivating Awe Daily
Take an Awe Walk – Spend 15 minutes noticing something bigger than yourself: nature, architecture, or even a powerful story.
Create a Daily Awe Practice – Try my approach and take a photo of something that fills you with awe each day. You don’t even have to put it on social media, just have a daily awe folder in your photos on your phone.
Watch or Listen to Something Awe-Inspiring – A sound of bird sing, music, TED Talks, or even a short documentary can spark awe.
Share Awe with Others – In leadership, storytelling can be a powerful way to inspire awe in your team. Start meetings with an awe-inspiring insight, customer story, or achievement.
Resources
📖 Book: Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life – Dr Dacher Keltner
🎧 Podcast: Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s Feel Better, Live More interview with Keltner
📸 My Daily Awe Instagram Account: Follow dags_daily_awe
Want to work together?
If you’re a leader, founder or team looking to integrate awe into leadership, culture, and performance, I’d love to chat. Let’s explore how embodied leadership practices - like breathwork, awe, and presence - can transform the way you lead.
📅 Book a Coaching Session: Click here to schedule a cal
📧 Email me: coaching@dagmaraaldridge.com
Tune into wonder, stay present, and let awe shape your world.
Love,
Dag
