Written by Jody Cecil, our Licensed Professional Counselor at the Flourish Center
As I collect my thoughts and write today, I’m looking out my window. At first glance, I
see mud and weeds. It’s been raining for days, and my first reaction is to feel anxious
as I think about the hours of work there is to do outside. I choose to wait and watch.
There, in the branches of our pine tree. A hummingbird, darting and dancing. I find
myself experiencing awe, a moment that has shifted my perspective and brought me
peace.
Awe is the feeling we experience when we encounter something vast, beautiful, or
deeply meaningful – something that stretches our understanding of the world and our
place within it. It can arise while watching a sunset, standing beneath towering
mountains, listening to powerful music, or witnessing an act of profound kindness.
Hearing the laughter of a child brings me so much joy. Though often fleeting, awe plays
a surprisingly key role in human well-being.
At a personal level, awe helps shift our focus away from everyday worries. When we
feel awe, our usual concerns about time, stress, or status tend to fade, replaced by a
sense of perspective. This mental reset can reduce stress, encourage humility, and
make challenges feel more manageable. Awe reminds us that life is larger than our
immediate problems.
Awe also strengthens our connections with others. Experiences that inspire awe often
foster feelings of belonging and shared humanity. When people feel small in the
presence of something greater – nature, art, or collective achievement – they are more
likely to act with generosity, empathy, and cooperation. In this way, awe quietly supports
social bonds.
Practicing presence and awe starts by slowing down and noticing what surrounds us –
like the light through a window or the rhythm of our breath. In my earlier experience
looking out the window, I wasn’t looking at anything spectacular. I had to wait for it. If we
pause long enough, even a glimmer of beauty can result in awe. May we all allow for
more moments of wonder, and may those moments help us find connection and calm
even in ordinary days.
As a licensed professional counselor, Jody sees clients both virtually and in person at the Flourish Center. She uses a variety of modalities to help her clients in reaching their goals including Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Whatever modality is used, Jody values the uniqueness and strengths of each person and invites them to embrace healing holistically.
If you are interested in counseling, contact Jody via her website Taking Root Counseling.
