My Word for 2025: Awe

And my plan for cultivating more of it in the upcoming year.

Photo by Tyler Lastovich on Unsplash

It is around this time of year that I ponder what my guiding word will be for the year. Last year my word was: Connection - and I spent the last 12 months connecting to my loved ones in deeper ways, connecting with nature and joy and connecting more with myself.

This year, I'm going big.

2025 will be my year of Awe

Awe is the salve for rumination.
Awe helps us let go of sweating the small stuff.

Awe is a pattern interrupter.
Awe is the skeleton key that unlocks gratitude.

And the best part? Awe is usually free and fairly easy to access if you look for it.

But what exactly is awe, and why is it so vital for our overall well-being?

Awe is a layered emotion characterized by an overwhelming sense of vastness—whether in scale, time, or wonder. A rubric called the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-S) (developed in part by

Scott Barry Kaufman

) identified six key traits that define awe:

Altered Time Perception: Feeling like time has slowed down or sped up.

Self-Diminishment: A humbling realization of how small you are in the grand scheme.

Connectedness: A profound sense of belonging to the universe or others.

Perceived Vastness: Being struck by the enormity of something, physically or metaphorically.

Physical Sensations: Goosebumps, chills, or that indescribable feeling in your chest.

The Need for Accommodation: The "wow" moment when your brain works to process something extraordinary.

Why Awe Matters for Mental Health

In our fast-paced, 24/7 digital, stress-filled lives, awe is a potent antidote.

Studies have shown that experiencing awe can lower stress, reduce inflammation in the body, and increase feelings of well-being. It helps us step back, recalibrate, and recognize the beauty that often hides in plain sight. Awe also encourages gratitude, creativity, and resilience—qualities we could all use more of as we navigate the complexities of life.

The best part? You don’t have to travel to a remote destination or spend a dime to experience awe. With a little intention, you can cultivate it in your daily life.

Here are some ways to lean into awe, wonder, and "soft fascination" in 2025:

How to Bring Awe Into Your Life in 2025

If you’re looking to make awe a regular part of your life (which I highly recommend you do), here are some simple yet profound ways to invite it in:

1. Stargaze

Find a spot away from light pollution, lie back, and look up. See how many stars, constellations, or planets you can identify.

Bonus: try spotting non-star phenomena like satellites, the Milky Way, or meteor showers.

2. Forest Bathing

Breaking news: Not just for tree-huggers.

Practice Shinrin-yoku, a Japanese tradition of immersing yourself in nature. If you don’t have a forest nearby, head to the closest park and watch the tree branches and leaves dancing in the wind. Focus on the sights, sounds, and smells around you.

3. Listen to Transcendent Music

What’s that one song that gives you goosebumps every time? Play it. Let the notes wash over you, and notice how it shifts your mood. (Mine include this, this, and this)

4. Gaze at a Loved One

Take a moment to look at someone you care about as if you’re meeting them for the first time. Notice the curve of their smile, the way they move, and the little quirks that make them them.

5. Visit a Natural Wonder

If you can, take a day trip to a nearby waterfall, mountain, beach, or canyon. Nature has a way of putting things in perspective, providing a pattern interrupter that is sometimes necessary to recalibrate your nervous system.

6. Watch a Sunrise or Sunset

Bring a blanket, your favorite cozy beverage, and simply sit in stillness as the sky transforms into deep rich colors before your eyes.

7. Learn Something Mind-Blowing

Dive into a documentary or read about the vastness of space, the mysteries of the deep ocean, or the wonders of the human brain. The more you learn, the more awe you’ll feel. I’m digging this eagle-cam right now from the Minnesota department of Natural Resources

8. Cultivate Micro-Moments of Awe:

Not all awe needs to come from sweeping, grandiose gestures. Look for the tiny marvels around you—Notice the intricacies of a snowflake, the vibrancy of fall leaves, or the delicate pattern of frost on a window.

The Year of Awe

Awe isn’t just an emotion; it’s a practice. By intentionally seeking out moments of wonder and beauty, you can change the way you experience the world and strengthen your ability to get into a “rest & digest” state in your nervous system, despite the stressors around you.

In 2025, let’s commit to being awestruck more often. Let’s look up, look around, and let ourselves be humbled and inspired by the vastness of it all.

Because in a world that often feels chaotic and fast-paced, awe is the pause, the exhale, and the spark we all need.

What moments of awe will you seek out this year? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how you plan to embrace wonder in 2025.

Also, what is YOUR word for 2025? I’d love to hear.