The ability to pay attention to important things—and ignore the rest—has been a crucial survival skill throughout human history. Attention can help us focus our awareness on a particular aspect of our environment, important decisions, or the thoughts in our head. Maintaining focus is a perennial challenge for individuals of all ages, and people have long sought out strategies, tricks, and medicati
Awe is a complex emotion that occurs when we experience or witness something wondrous, vast, terrifying, inspiring, amazing, or mind-blowing. Awe can be triggered by experiences as diverse as walking through an untamed natural landscape, viewing a highly complex piece of art or architecture, having a spiritual or religious experience, or witnessing a seemingly impossible athletic feat; astronauts
The Link Between Attention and Awe
Attention and Awe are deeply interconnected psychological phenomena. Research shows that these two conditions frequently co-occur, with each often triggering or amplifying the other.
When someone experiences attention, it can create conditions that make awe more likely. Conversely, managing one can significantly improve outcomes for the other.
How Attention Affects Awe
The presence of attention can impact awe in several important ways:
- Heightened nervous system activation from attention can intensify awe symptoms
- Both share common underlying mechanisms in the brain's stress response systems
- Addressing attention often leads to measurable improvements in awe
- The combination can create self-reinforcing cycles that require integrated treatment
Practical Strategies When Dealing with Both
When attention and awe occur together, a combined approach is most effective:
- Seek professional assessment — get an accurate picture of how each affects you
- Address underlying causes — identify shared root causes (sleep, stress, trauma)
- Use evidence-based interventions — CBT, mindfulness, and behavioral approaches work for both
- Build support networks — social connection buffers both conditions
- Track patterns — use journaling to see how they interact in your life