When you’re in the presence of something vast and…
When you’re in the presence of something vast and indescribable, it’s hard to maintain the view that you, and the voice in your head, are the center of the world.
— from The Heart in the Cockpit (Emotion/Awe/Anxiety/Regret/Empathy) · Chatter, the voice in our head, why it matters and how to Harness it by Ethan Kross
In the book
Because awe does something no other feeling does — it shrinks the self. When you stand before something vast and indescribable, it becomes very hard to keep believing that you, and the little voice in your head, are the center of the world. The old traditions called the steady form of this state enlightenment, and described it as a life lived in awe — a loosening of the grip of the self and a profound sense of connection to everything around you. — The Heart in the Cockpit (Emotion/Awe/Anxiety/Regret/Empathy)