Awe and the Beginner's Mind

March carries a subtle invitation. As winter begins to loosen its grip and signs of renewal begin to appear, attention naturally lifts outward. This is a season well suited for awe.

'Awe is not a luxury emotion. It is a deeply human one. Awe invites a widening of perspective, a softening of certainty, and a return to wonder. It asks us to pause long enough to notice what is already present rather than rushing past it.

Fr. Richard Rohr describes this posture beautifully through the lens of "beginner’s mind:"

“Beginner’s mind is a readiness to always be in awe, to always be excited. We see it in children and in people who don’t filter everything through the brain. Beginner’s mind is one’s mind before the hurts of life have made us cautious and self-protective. We can still be excited, we can still be in awe, we can still expect tomorrow to be different than today.”

In a culture that rewards urgency and control, a beginner's mind can feel almost radical. Life teaches caution. Experience teaches restraint. Over time, wonder is often replaced with predictability. Awe, however, gently disrupts this narrowing. It invites curiosity back into places that have grown rigid or tired.

Albert Einstein understood the essential nature of this emotion when he wrote: “He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed.”

Awe often arrives through beauty. A wide sky. A sudden stillness. A moment of mastery. I asked my mother when she has felt awe and found that awe has shown up for her in simple ways. Pretty sunsets that seem almost impossible in their color. The Smoky Mountains in fall, layered and glowing. Winter snow settling quietly into familiar landscapes. A church steeple silhouetted against a blue sky. Professional ice skaters whose discipline and grace reveal what years of dedication can create. People who devote their lives to helping other people, becoming exceptional not by chance, but through commitment and hard work. These moments inspired Mama not because they are flashy, but because they reflect devotion, effort, and meaning.

Beyond how it feels, practicing the emotion of awe has measurable benefits for well-being.

From a mental health perspective, awe reduces rumination and anxiety by shifting attention away from constant self-focus. When the lens widens, worries often loosen their grip. Awe reminds us that we are part of something larger, which can soften stress and strengthen emotional resilience.

Physically, experiences of awe have been associated with reduced inflammation and improved nervous system regulation. Awe activates the parasympathetic response, helping the body settle, slow, and recover. In this way, awe becomes restorative rather than depleting.

Cognitively, awe enhances curiosity, creativity, and flexible thinking. Beginner’s mind opens the door to learning rather than certainty, inviting new perspectives and ideas to emerge.

Socially, awe strengthens connection. Because it quiets the voice of the self, it naturally increases empathy, generosity, and collaboration. Shared awe moments often deepen relationships and remind people of their shared humanity.

Awe does not require travel or grand plans. It often appears when attention slows enough to notice what is already present. It can arise in nature, art, music, or human goodness. It can even surface in witnessing resilience or courage during difficult times.

Three simple ways to invite awe more intentionally include:

First, look up and outward. Spend a few minutes noticing the sky, trees, architecture, or movement around you. Let scale, pattern, or beauty register fully without rushing past it.

Second, witness mastery. Watch someone deeply skilled at what they do, whether through art, music, athletics, or service. Mastery born of dedication often evokes awe naturally.

Third, notice goodness. Pay attention to acts of kindness, perseverance, or integrity. Awe often emerges when witnessing people showing up fully for others.

Awe is also an emotion worth celebrating. Not by capturing it or explaining it away, but by allowing it to linger. By sharing it with others. By letting it remind us of what matters.

Gentle coaching invitations

• This month, experiment with the concept of "beginner’s mind." Approach one ordinary moment as if it were being experienced for the first time. Notice what changes when expectation loosens and curiosity leads.  

• Ask someone you love when they feel "awe" and then be amazed at the beautiful conversation that follows.

Reflective questions

• When do you feel awe most readily?

• Where might a beginner’s mind be invited back into your life?

• How do you intentionally make room for awe in your daily or weekly rhythm?

In your corner,

Linda