Jonah Paquette on Feeling Awestruck

Jonah Paquette is interviewed by Etan Ilfeld. Jonah is a clinical psychologist, speaker, and author. His book Awestruck teaches us how to be more alive through the power of experiencing awe. Did you know that our ancestors used to experience awe on a daily basis but we only do about twice a week? Modern civilization is awe-deprived.

Jonah gives tips on how to bring awe back into our daily lives. Also, we learn that we can experience negative awe through catastrophes but that they can also change our perspective and enhance our compassion and gratitude.

On average, for half of our waking hours, our mind wanders and doesn’t take in all of the present. That’s a shame because real life is right here, right now.

Whether it’s through nature, music, psychedelics, intense connection, that awe-inspired feeling that has been described as oceanic by Freud or as a peak experience by Maslow is vital to thriving in life. Awe makes us more present and grateful and breaks the cycle of negative rumination.