[A] new study by three psychology scientists (forthcoming in Psychological Science) offers valuable insight into the universal power of awe.
Although the study looks to investigate several aspects of this emotion, the initial – and perhaps most intriguing – hypothesis is pretty striking: the experience of awe will expand your perception of time.
Referencing current research, the study offers several explanations for this phenomenon. Perhaps most integral, though, to this study is the fact that awe puts the beholder in the moment, which can augment his or her sense of time.
In addition to confirming the expansion of time, the study shows that awe can ease impatience and actually make you more willing to volunteer time in the name of others. People also begin to prefer an actual experience over a material good. And just in case that wasn’t good enough, an awesome moment can increase your overall satisfaction and happiness in life.