Feeling Before We Fix: Why Awe Matters in a Time of Polycrisis
Mapping the Journey from Awe to Changemaking.
In a world that craves order, our minds often trim the complex, messy reality into neat boxes—straightforward stories where one big cause leads to one big effect. Brian Klaas, in his book Fluke: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, warns us that this reductionism blinds us to the subtle, interconnected nature of our world. We overlook the small, seemingly insignificant variables that, like grains of sand, accumulate and trigger avalanches. We live within a polycrisis—a tangled web of climate disasters, social unrest, and political polarization—where everything is interwoven, yet we struggle to see the connections. The challenge is not just to make sense of this overwhelming complexity but also to feel part of it.
We are searching for clear answers in a complex world, but our need for tidy solutions often drowns out the power of moments that don’t fit neatly into our expectations. What if a missing ingredient in our pursuit of change isn’t more data or action plans but something far more elusive—a moment of awe?
Over the past year, I’ve explored awe as a catalyst for change, working with community partners across Canada, Europe, North and South Africa. From urban reforestation initiatives with Parks Canada to the Lugongolo Foundation’s work redefining masculinity and reducing gender-based violence, our journey reveals that awe-based changemaking is not about following a linear path. Instead, it’s a constellation of human experiences that challenge conventional approaches to what drives us to change. Awe, it turns out, doesn’t always lead to immediate action—but sometimes, that’s exactly the point.
The Liminal Power of Awe
Awe is a fleeting and liminal state—a brief window into the vastness of existence that disrupts our tidy narratives. Researchers like Dacher Keltner have highlighted how awe can break through our conventional thinking, reminding us of the interconnectedness of everything around us. His insights have fueled my approach to ‘awe-based changemaking,’ seeing awe not just as an emotional response but as a powerful catalyst for reimagining our role within complex systems.
At the University of Central Florida, researchers describe awe as “a direct and initial feeling when faced with something incomprehensible or sublime.” They’ve been measuring awe’s physiological effects—changes in heart rate, breathing, and even our sense of time—showing that awe is a full-bodied experience that momentarily unmoors us from the illusion of control. Awe can make us feel small, part of something larger, and intricately connected in ways we rarely acknowledge. It’s a powerful reminder that we are not separate from the systems we try to manage but deeply embedded within them.
Yet, awe isn’t always comfortable. It can unsettle us, disrupt our perspectives, and challenge our sense of certainty. It’s not about remaining in awe but about what unfolds afterward—how it nudges us into new ways of thinking and being. This mirrors the work of Renee Lertzman and Project Inside Out, which emphasizes the importance of creating space for emotional processing as a critical step in addressing complex challenges.
In our work, we’ve observed that awe often leads down two distinct paths: for some, it sparks immediate action, while for others, it opens up a deeper sense of wonder and inquiry. In our rush to act, we often overlook this crucial reflective space—a space that not only helps us process our emotions but also challenges the very systems we seek to change.
Introducing Awe-Based Changemaking
Through my exploration, I’ve come to see that awe can lead us to a multitude of places, each as varied as the individuals who experience it. Although I initially sought to create a structured framework to map these outcomes, I’ve instead begun to visualize awe as a constellation—a dynamic network of potential directions. The real challenge lies in guiding and supporting individuals as they navigate these points, helping them move from moments of awe toward meaningful shifts and lasting change.
Awe as a Gateway to Wonder
Often, the ‘woah’ of awe naturally transitions into wonder—a quieter, more contemplative feeling where we sit with our questions. Wonder is what happens when we can’t immediately fit an awe-inspiring experience into our usual mental frameworks. It’s not about the immediate emotional rush but about the thinking that follows.
Imagine witnessing a meteor shower, standing beneath a sky ablaze with streaks of light. Awe grips you first—a visceral reminder of your smallness and the universe’s grandeur. But as the moment fades, wonder takes over. You begin to ask: How does this happen? What does it mean? Wonder invites us to dwell in uncertainty and exploration, rather than rushing to simple answers.
From Wonder to Curiosity
This shift from awe to wonder naturally gives rise to curiosity—a willingness to explore beyond what we know and to question the status quo. At this year’s Karnival der Kulturen (Carnival of Cultures) in Berlin, we focused on moral beauty—one of the eight universal ways to experience awe identified by Keltner. The carnival, rooted in a history of bridging divides, now serves as a platform to celebrate diversity and dialogue. For our team, it was a place for exploring depolarization strategies, and as part of this ongoing experiment, we invited strangers to connect unexpectedly.
Participants were paired, asked to sit face-to-face, gaze into each other’s eyes, and write letters to one another without exchanging words. This simple act of seeing and being seen created micro-moments of awe. The air was charged with unspoken connections, and curiosity replaced small talk. People began to ask deeper questions: What has shaped you? What are your dreams? The exercise didn’t seek answers; it sought to ignite deeper engagement, empathy, and connection. The outcomes of this experiment are still unfolding, but early reflections suggest that awe, even among strangers, can open doors to new possibilities for understanding.
One of the many letters written from one stranger to another. Berlin 2024
From Curiosity to Self-Directed Learning
Curiosity often nudges us into self-directed learning—a shift from passive absorption to active exploration. During my time leading Fashion Revolution in Malaysia and Singapore, we focused on raising awareness about supply chain issues, from microplastics to labor ethics. But simply presenting information rarely led to real change. The turning point came when individuals experienced a moment that disrupted their habitual thinking—a spark of awe or curiosity that made them want to dig deeper on their own terms, like the 9meter tall closet I built with artist Von Wong in one of Egypt’s largest shopping malls.
Von Wong https://blog.vonwong.com/tallestcloset/
I’ve seen consumers, previously disengaged, become passionate about understanding the stories behind the clothes they wear. They shifted from passive consumers to active learners, driven not by guilt but by a genuine desire to know more. This is where awe-based changemaking diverges from traditional advocacy: it doesn’t push; it pulls.
Connecting with Others: The Communal Effect of Awe
Community amplifies the power of awe. When curiosity evolves into self-directed learning, it often brings people together, deepening their commitment and broadening their impact. Collective moments of awe—from public art installations to shared experiences in nature—remind us that we are not isolated actors but part of a larger, interconnected web.
A powerful example of this is Little Amal, the 12-foot puppet of a Syrian refugee girl who has journeyed across cities worldwide, sparking conversations about displacement and human rights. Little Amal’s presence isn’t just symbolic; it creates communal moments of awe that disrupt apathy and provoke empathy. People aren’t just spectators; they become part of a shared experience that challenges the boundaries between self and other, between the familiar and the unknown. Amal’s journey shows how awe can transform public spaces into sites of reflection, connection, and collective action.
Little Amal https://www.walkwithamal.org/
The Shift
Ultimately, awe connects our individual experiences to broader systems, helping us see ourselves as both part of the problem and the solution. This shift—from micro to macro—is not necessarily about grand gestures but about the small, everyday moments that ripple out into the world. Awe reminds us that we are not separate from the systems we seek to change; we are entangled within them. It’s this entanglement that gives our actions—however small—the potential to shape our future.
When we experience awe, we momentarily step outside the boxes we’ve constructed around reality. We see the interconnectedness of our choices, the complexity of our world, and the possibilities that lie beyond the obvious. In those moments, the question isn’t just what we do next, but who we become.
Rethinking Changemaking Through Awe
The journey from awe to wonder, curiosity, self-directed learning, community, and ultimately, change, is not simply another framework approach—it’s an invitation to engage with flukes, and the fleeting moments that can unexpectedly shift the ground beneath us. Awe, in all its unpredictability, offers us a chance to pause, to reflect, and to reconnect with the complexity of life. It’s a reminder that the answers we seek are often found not in the grand narratives but in the quiet, overlooked moments that challenge us to see the world—and ourselves—in a whole new way.
With kindness and curiosity,
Laura
Where to Find Us During Climate Week NYC 2024
The PolyOpportunity – Hosted by the House of Beautiful Business and The Acosta Institute, this event will delve into the intersection of emotions and systems change. I’ll be speaking about how awe can shift our perspectives and open new pathways to impact. Learn more.
Moving Climate Action from Depletion to Health, Awe, Regeneration - In partnership with Futur.io, Steelcase, we’re joining experts Parneet Pal (Systematically Well), Fanny Eliaers (nuway), this Climate Week NYC session brings together business leaders, sustainability officers, and changemakers to delve into how awe and inner restoration can sustain long-term climate action. Through dialogue, scientific insights, and emotional processing, we’ll transition from a place of depletion to one of health, awe, and regeneration. Learn more.
Additionally, check out these important community events happening soon:
Humanize Program by Monika Jiang
– An inspiring program that focuses on vulnerability and human connection in a world often dominated by efficiency. Monika’s work invites us to rethink how we engage with ourselves and others. Learn more.