Why Awe is the Most Important Mental Wellness Trend of 2026

Over and over again while floating through space, astronauts looking down on Earth experience the “overview effect”: a state of awe so profound that it makes them feel intensely connected to humanity and the planet itself long after they return home.

Though this particular psychological phenomenon might sound otherworldly and out of reach, study after study has established that this kind of self-transcendence is possible right here on Earth. Early researchers found that surveying a landscape from up high—say, a mountaintop—could elicit the same effect. And more recently, scientists have broadened our understanding of awe to include any observation of vastness, literal or conceptual. Think gazing upon the Great Barrier Reef, learning about the history of civilization, or pondering the many influences of the Cubists.

What’s fundamental to all of these experiences is a positive, intense emotion that’s distinct from others in its wide range of mental health benefits.

Incorporating awe into one’s routine this year, then, is perhaps the easiest way to feel—and even act—better. Here’s why, and how, to do so.

Why awe makes us more selfless

Researchers have found that people enduring mental health struggles usually fixate on themselves. But awe has the opposite effect.

Those experiencing this emotion tend to identify with more universal categories than individual ones. In diary, lab, and nature studies, scientists have repeatedly witnessed how awe can bring on a reduction in self-focus. One such study asked participants to draw themselves after visiting one of the most awe-inspiring viewpoints at Yosemite National Park. These visitors depicted themselves as physically smaller in illustrations than those who hadn’t visited the site.

And this cognitive shift doesn’t just have individual effects. Research has tied experiences of awe to volunteering time and donating money, benefiting society at large. These experiences don’t have to be long; studies often deploy clips of nature and other brief stimuli to stir this emotion.

The Humane Space’s guided Awe Walks can lead you to awe in no time. Via 10-minute audio experiences, they invite you to contemplate your surroundings—a tree, a garden—and, as you do, ponder your connections to the world and others.

How awe improves our mental health

One of the most prominent awe-related findings of 2025 could have a major effect on people’s health in 2026 and beyond: A study in Scientific Reports found that people with long COVID who were encouraged to undertake awe-seeking activities, such as walking in nature, reported less depression and stress, and greater well-being, than those weren’t given these guidelines.

This research builds on prior studies that have shown beneficial mental health effects for the general population. Awe has been linked to greater well-being and life satisfaction. One study found that adults exposed to clips of nature experienced more happiness and less negative thinking than others.

Even when you’re unable to see or hear nature, The Humane Space’s Mind Journeys^® can transport you there. These guided visualizations allow you to envision your own awe-inspiring scenes or specific ones, such as the Grand Canyon, and give your mind a boost.

How awe improves our physical health

These days, everyone’s asking about how they can reduce inflammation. Chronically high levels of inflammatory cytokines, for example, are associated with poorer health.

While there’s no quick fix for chronic inflammation, physical changes to your routine aren’t the only way to improve this condition. Those who regularly experience awe often have lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, one oft-cited study found.

Why awe makes us better thinkers

When we encounter something vast, it expands the potential of our minds. Researchers have found that awe boosts our ability to think creatively, logically, and even scientifically. This neuroplasticity is a literal reorganization of our brains. Talk about a shift.

So how does one begin to access this evolution? Consider The Humane Space’s immersive deep-dives into science, history, art, and more as your daily gateways to awe. Have you ever wondered about the origins of water or the world’s first illustrations? Or the forests of Scotland and the creatures of Kakadu National Park?

Maybe you have, maybe you haven’t. But either way, by opening your mind to these subjects, you’re bound to encounter awe along the way.