ABSTRACT
Awe is an encounter with grandeur that at once enlarges the self and diminishes it. The person in awe feels that he or she is drinking in or absorbing something great from outside the self. Awe recognizes power in another (or in a part of the self). Such power may frighten; thus, awe may contain an element of horror. Things that exist outside ordinary categories, some of which may be seen as alien, can be horrifying or awesome. The person in awe welcomes novelty and alienness, rather than greeting it with fear. An attitude of awe toward other persons can expand our view of humanity to include what is greater than expected. Awe in interpersonal relations can motivate us toward excellence but may also position an individual as a child who looks up to another and diminishes herself. Awe experiences build and sustain attachment to life and faith in life and help people endure difficulty.
