How can awe increase our likelihood of acting heroically?
I believe awe isn’t just an emotion—it’s a catalyst.
It breaks through our mental noise and self-importance. It interrupts our default settings and makes us feel both small and connected at the same time.
Awe reminds us that there is something bigger than ourselves—and invites us to serve it.
When you feel awe—whether it’s from the night sky, a breathtaking act of kindness, or the final page of a story that split your heart open—you’re not just inspired…
You’re recalibrated.
• The ego quiets.
• The fear dims.
• And suddenly, you can hear that small voice inside saying,
“Do something brave.”
• Awe is what nudges a bystander into motion.
• It’s what turns compassion into action.
• It’s the moment a kid watching a heroic act says, “I want to be like that.”
• And then starts behaving like that before they even realize they’ve changed.
In the stories I write—Wanted Hero, Bloodsticks, Demoni Vankil—there’s always a thread of awe. Not just in the magic or monsters, but in the small, human moments:
When someone forgives before they’re asked.
When a frightened hero stands up again.
When a character looks at something broken and chooses to love it anyway.
Because awe doesn’t just fill the chest.
It opens the door to heroism.
And that’s something we need more of in this world—especially in the hearts of our kids.
So yes—let’s explore it more. Let’s write it in. Let’s live it out.
Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t just feel awe…
But answers it.
— Jaime
BTW, Matt (and maybe @Ari will be interested in this)... The timing of this post was AMAZING! The 'Ink & Purpose' series I've been writing will cover this topic:
#11 The Call of Awe: How Wonder Sparks Heroism ....“Awe doesn’t just open our eyes. It opens our hearts—and points them toward action.”
[An exploration of how awe—whether through nature, story, sacrifice, or mystery—awakens the moral imagination and increases the likelihood of courageous action. This article will explore the neuroscience of awe, its role in character development, and how fiction, art, and wonder create emotional openings for heroic behavior in young minds. This includes the teachings of Zimbardo, Langdon, and the Heroic Imagination Project.]
I love the idea of using awe to not only motivate, and inspire, but perhaps also to purify.
Awe usually, in my experience, eliminates self interest, and causes me to want to share, and serve, rather than, like you say, focus on self.
I haven't got anything but my own experiences to validate this, but I suspect that it is a universal trait to want to share awe with others, in order to allow them to experience it with, or because of you.
Totally agree on the sharing. I’ve done a lot of solo travel and often wished someone was there to share the experience with. And sometimes happy to simply enjoy it alone. Looking forward to diving into some of the research and writing some more.
Matt's got quite the mind...and he's fun to listen to, IMO.
Love the thought about purify, because in my experience (and I'm with you, that's all I have, really, personal experience) awe eliminates self interest....and I tend to live in the moment, focused on others, wanting to SHARE that moment.
In the Metaphysics, Aristotle says, “Human beings began to do philosophy, even as they do now, because of wonder, at first because they wondered about the strange things right in front of them, and then later, advancing little by little, because they came to find greater things puzzling” (982b12).
How can awe increase our likelihood of acting heroically?
I believe awe isn’t just an emotion—it’s a catalyst.
It breaks through our mental noise and self-importance. It interrupts our default settings and makes us feel both small and connected at the same time.
Awe reminds us that there is something bigger than ourselves—and invites us to serve it.
When you feel awe—whether it’s from the night sky, a breathtaking act of kindness, or the final page of a story that split your heart open—you’re not just inspired…
You’re recalibrated.
• The ego quiets.
• The fear dims.
• And suddenly, you can hear that small voice inside saying,
“Do something brave.”
• Awe is what nudges a bystander into motion.
• It’s what turns compassion into action.
• It’s the moment a kid watching a heroic act says, “I want to be like that.”
• And then starts behaving like that before they even realize they’ve changed.
In the stories I write—Wanted Hero, Bloodsticks, Demoni Vankil—there’s always a thread of awe. Not just in the magic or monsters, but in the small, human moments:
When someone forgives before they’re asked.
When a frightened hero stands up again.
When a character looks at something broken and chooses to love it anyway.
Because awe doesn’t just fill the chest.
It opens the door to heroism.
And that’s something we need more of in this world—especially in the hearts of our kids.
So yes—let’s explore it more. Let’s write it in. Let’s live it out.
Let’s raise a generation that doesn’t just feel awe…
But answers it.
— Jaime
BTW, Matt (and maybe @Ari will be interested in this)... The timing of this post was AMAZING! The 'Ink & Purpose' series I've been writing will cover this topic:
#11 The Call of Awe: How Wonder Sparks Heroism ....“Awe doesn’t just open our eyes. It opens our hearts—and points them toward action.”
[An exploration of how awe—whether through nature, story, sacrifice, or mystery—awakens the moral imagination and increases the likelihood of courageous action. This article will explore the neuroscience of awe, its role in character development, and how fiction, art, and wonder create emotional openings for heroic behavior in young minds. This includes the teachings of Zimbardo, Langdon, and the Heroic Imagination Project.]
...just FYI (grin)
Can't wait. I'm half way through my "thinking" post about it now.
You'll want to read next weeks post:
The Role of the Hero: Why Kids Need More Than Superpowers
...I refer to HIP, The Hero Round Table and you.
I love the idea of using awe to not only motivate, and inspire, but perhaps also to purify.
Awe usually, in my experience, eliminates self interest, and causes me to want to share, and serve, rather than, like you say, focus on self.
I haven't got anything but my own experiences to validate this, but I suspect that it is a universal trait to want to share awe with others, in order to allow them to experience it with, or because of you.
Totally agree on the sharing. I’ve done a lot of solo travel and often wished someone was there to share the experience with. And sometimes happy to simply enjoy it alone. Looking forward to diving into some of the research and writing some more.
Hey Hyrum!
I thought you might enjoy HIP. =)
Matt's got quite the mind...and he's fun to listen to, IMO.
Love the thought about purify, because in my experience (and I'm with you, that's all I have, really, personal experience) awe eliminates self interest....and I tend to live in the moment, focused on others, wanting to SHARE that moment.
i never thought about awesome and awful being sort of the opposite of what you’d expect by looking at the words
Iceland seems awesome ;)
Love the use of awe here!
In the Metaphysics, Aristotle says, “Human beings began to do philosophy, even as they do now, because of wonder, at first because they wondered about the strange things right in front of them, and then later, advancing little by little, because they came to find greater things puzzling” (982b12).
I’ll steal that for the next post for sure.
As well you should. And then at some point let's talk about Judaism and the concept of yirat haShem, or being awestruck by God.