The Courageous Life

Awe, Wonder, and Everyday Miracles | Dr. Jonah Paquette

April 24, 2024 Joshua Steinfeldt Season 4 Episode 97
The Courageous Life
Awe, Wonder, and Everyday Miracles | Dr. Jonah Paquette
Show Notes

What do you feel when you gaze up at the Milky Way, take in a beautiful sunset, stand before a mountain that seems impossibly high, or witness an extraordinary act of courage, kindness, or love?

Often, it's a profound sense of awe - the overwhelming feeling we experience when we encounter something vast that transcends our understanding.

In his book Awestruck,  clinician, researcher, and multi-time author, Dr. Jonah Paquette, reminds us that awe-inspiring moments are all around us.

Ranging from the grand to the commonplace, its these moments that hold part of the key to living a deeply fulfilling life.

Today, Jonah and I will dive into a wide ranging conversation about the life-changing potential of awe.

Together we'll explore:

  • How this powerful emotion can help alleviate some of the struggles in our daily lives, including stress, and social isolation.
  • How awe can help us more effectively navigate polarization and division as we find the curiosity and compassion to build bridges across difference.
  • The groundbreaking science behind awe including how it impacts our brain and nervous system. 
  • Powerful insights into the effects of awe and how it can transform life in flashbulb moments.
  • Moving stories of people who inspire awe.
  • Simple practices aimed at bringing more wonder, curiosity, empathy, and courage into our lives.


If you want to dive deeper into the topic of Awe I  would highly encourage you to check out Jonah’s book Awestruck: How Embracing Wonder Can Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Connected.  

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More about Jonah:

Jonah Paquette is a clinical psychologist, author, and keynote speaker specializing in the science of well-being and the promotion of emotional fitness for individuals, teams, and organizations. Jonah conducts keynote presentations with top organizations throughout the world, and teaches skills for well-being so that individuals and organizations can flourish. He is the author of four books. Prior to his career as a speaker and trainer, Jonah spent over a decade working in healthcare leadership at Kaiser Permanente. For more, please visit jonahpaquette.com


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