How a Bit of Awe Can Improve Your Health - The New York Times
The Concept of Awe
Definition: Awe is described as the feeling of being in the presence of something vast that transcends understanding.
Examples include witnessing phenomena like a total solar eclipse, seeing a child’s first steps, or enjoying powerful performances like those from Lizzo.
Dacher Keltner suggests awe is simpler and more prevalent than often regarded.
Everyday Experience: While awe is associated with profound experiences, it can be found in daily life, triggered by perceived vastness or moments that challenge beliefs.
Examples: Grand Canyon vistas, acts of kindness.
Some awe experiences can also be challenging or threatening (e.g., observing a lion in a zoo).
Importance to Well-Being: Awe is categorized alongside joy, contentment, and love as critical to mental and physical health.
Benefits include calming the nervous system and releasing oxytocin, enhancing trust and social bonds.
Biological Aspects of Awe
Classification: Awe is not one of the six basic emotions identified in 1972. New research indicates that it is distinct and elicits different physiological responses.
Responses include unique sounds and facial expressions different from other emotions like joy or fear.
Physiological Effects: Awe activates the vagal nerves, which can:
Slow heart rate.
Improve digestion and deepen breathing.
Psychological Benefits: Awe may reduce negative self-talk by deactivating the default mode network—an area linked to self-perception.
This aspect is particularly relevant in the context of pervasive social media which fosters self-criticism and entitlement.
Cultivating Experiences of Awe
Practice and Mindfulness: Awe can be developed through mindful practices. Reflecting on personal experiences and environment enhances awareness.
Keltner shares insights from his visit to San Quentin State Prison, where inmates described finding awe in their surroundings and simple experiences.
A study across participants in America and China revealed individuals experience awe two to three times a week by simply observing their environment.
Tips to Experience Awe:
Focus on Science and Nature: Involvement and reflection on the scientific aspects of the universe can evoke awe.
Highlight Moral Beauty: Observing acts of kindness fosters feelings of awe.
Notices everyday goodness around you—appreciating the positive actions of others can inspire awe.
Learn from Inspiring Figures: Engage with the lives of remarkable individuals (e.g., Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa) to cultivate awe.
Mindfulness Practice: Reducing distractions and fostering curiosity aides in cultivating awe.
Meditating, reflecting, or engaging in mindfulness practices primes individuals for awe experiences.
Embrace Novelty: Choosing new and unfamiliar experiences can lead to feelings of awe.
Seeking new restaurants, routes, or music styles can enrich life with awe-inspiring moments.
Conclusion
Awe is a transformative emotion capable of enriching life and well-being. It is accessible to everyone and can be fostered through attentiveness, moral appreciation, and embracing new experiences.