What is awe? Whether it be the scenery after a trek up a mountain, the beat of music pounding through a crowd or the piled up strokes of a paintbrush on a canvas, awe is what allows humans to reap the full benefits of existence. It’s the feeling of being in the presence of something infinite that goes beyond one’s understanding of the world. Whichever way you choose to experience awe, even a small dose can improve your mental health and help you live a more compassionate life.

Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, conducted a study in which a group of students were asked to stand under a grove of eucalyptus trees, the tallest trees in North America. Being in the presence of these trees proved to be a larger than life experience.

Keltner had one group of participants look up at the trees for one minute, a sufficient amount of time for them to report feeling awe, and had another group of participants stare in the opposite direction at the face of a dull science building.

Directly after, both groups of participants encountered a person who stumbled, dropping a handful of pens. It was found that the students who had been gazing up at the awe-inspiring trees picked up more pens, making them more inclined to help someone in need.

Keltner’s research shows that awe leads people to cooperate, share resources and be more motivated to help others, all of which are necessary, life-long skills. Being in the presence of vast things, such as the eucalyptus trees, creates more modest, self-aware people who are more kind towards others.

The benefits of awe are not limited to developing compassion. A study directed at Stanford University by PhD Melanie Rudd demonstrates that experiencing awe can expand our perception of time. At first glance, this may not seem like a noteworthy feat.

However, the concept of wasting or losing a single precious moment is one of humankind’s greatest fears. When time is perceived as scarce, an individual’s physical and mental health have been proven to plummet. An inflated sense of time can put destructive behavior to rest by providing a heightened perspective. “Experiences of awe bring people into the present moment, which underlies awe’s capacity to adjust time perception, influence decisions and make life feel more satisfying than it would otherwise,” Rudd said.

But how can you integrate awe into your life? Luckily, climbing Mount Everest isn’t necessary; there are many things people can do to to experience awe through daily activities.

The education director of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, Vicki Zakrzewski, finds awe in music. “I experience awe every time I listen to the 4th movement of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony,” Zakrzewski said. “When things get tough, it reminds me of the potential within myself and within every human being.”

Surrounding yourself with music or art of great complexity is one way to get your daily fix of awe. Another way is through unfamiliar experiences: “Putting yourself in new situations, in new places, and encountering new people should help increase your chances of experiencing awe,” Rudd said.

However, someone who refuses to acknowledge the beauty and power of the world may have difficulty encountering awe. A positive attitude and an enhanced perspective are not optional; they are essential.“The most important thing is to be open and willing to change how you think about things. Rather than looking at life through the lens of cynicism, see life as an amazing adventure, filled with extraordinary people and experiences and beauty,” Zakrzewski said. “When you experience awe, be aware of how you’re feeling and thinking in that moment — really take it in and savor [it], because those moments stay with you forever and can be revisited in the darkest of times as a reminder that life can also be ‘awesome.’”

Awe-inspiring events are just that: inspiring. No matter what form they come in, larger-than-life experiences provide an escape from a seemingly mundane world. You don’t need to look too far to find such enlightenment. In this present moment, you are standing on a planet that is moving at 1,000 miles per hour, and yet you don’t feel a thing. Your body’s natural intelligence fights off disease and repairs for injuries, often without your intervention. Of the millions of memories stored within your mind, a specific scent alone can trigger one. When you come to think of it, we live in an awesome world. Taking note of it can only do you good.