Be kinder to yourself: Awe promotes self-compassion via self-transcendence.
Emotion (Washington, D.C.) August 1, 2025 Wenying Yuan, Junyao Chang, Feng Jiang et al.
Awe can quickly boost self-compassion, even during difficult times. Across five studies, including three preregistered ones, awe was linked to higher self-compassion, whether measured by self-report or real-life behavior. This effect was not simply due to general positive feelings or being in nature. Self-transcendence—a sense of being part of something larger—explained why awe helped. The findings suggest that awe promotes self-compassion by expanding one's perspective beyond the self.