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Huberman Lab · April 5, 2026 · 2h 30m

Cultivating Awe & Emotional Connection in Daily Life

Dr. Dacher Keltner

Dr. Dacher Keltner — UC Berkeley psychology professor, author of Awe. The science of awe: what triggers it, how it changes the brain, and why it makes the self feel small (which is uplifting, not deflating). Fifteen-minute awe walks once a week for eight weeks measurably reduce distress and increase positive emotions. Awe is the emotional component of meaning.

Highlights

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Awe is the emotional component of meaning
Keltner: awe is what we feel when we engage in meaningful behavior. It connects us to something larger than ourselves.
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The small self — awe makes you feel small, which is liberating
Contrary to Western self-inflation, awe shrinks the self. You pay less attention to yourself and become more open to things outside you.
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References

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Awe — Dacher Keltner

Misc

✧15-minute awe walks — measurable benefits after 8 weeks
✧Awe makes the self feel small — contrary to Western self-inflation
✧The role of humor in social bonding discussed