That inexplicable sense of wonder, it turns out, is actually good for you.

A handful of recent studies have found that when people experience a sense of awe, they're generally more likely to feel less stressed, more humble, and more satisfied with their personal lives. "Awe experiences" — like catching a meteor shower in action or being around when a child is born — have also been linked with being less interested in ourselves, more generous towards others, and more curious about the people and things around us.

Feeling less self-obsessed and more interested in others has obvious benefits, from improving relationships to helping beat stress and depression.

Most of the research on awe is still in its preliminary phases, but the findings offer some fascinating clues into why we benefit from experiencing something greater than ourselves.