It makes sense to us psychologists that the benefits of experiencing awe are numerous. The shifts in our neurophysiology see us having increased oxytocin, lowered inflammation and other changes related to our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system that are associated with greater mental health. It decreases our focus on ourselves and turns our perspective outwards to the world. It increases our sense of meaning and allows us to step outside of our usual viewpoint – making sense of where we have come from and where we are going. Empathy and altruism are also boosted as we turn our attention beyond ourselves. Finding awe looks different to different people – I was lucky enough to find it recently at a concert. The awe coming not just from hearing a favourite song but from experiencing it with so many people and feeling part of a collective experience of joy. Awe “deposits” are what can keep us afloat in our day – maybe not at a concert – but in smaller, everyday doses. On a walk, listening to a song in the car, hearing of the bravery or kindness of someone else on the news. It is the feeling of a heart filling up, so that it is robust enough to remain resilient against the slings and arrows that life can throw.
Holiday periods allow us the opportunity to shift from our usual routine and seek out other experiences. Whilst trips to far flung places can be a wonderful thing for some, you don’t need to spend a lot of money or go far from home to find experiences that bring about a sense of awe. Dacher Keltner (psychologist from University of California) has written a book Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, a kind of guidebook for seeking out awe- and he boils it down the most common places to find it being within nature, music, visual design, and moral beauty.
Some ideas for seeking awe without going far:
- Go for an early morning walk – notice the birds, the trees, the insects, the natural world waking up with the sun.
- Sit in your garden or look out your window – look at the sky, the clouds.
- Listen to a favourite piece of music that you know causes an emotional shift for you.
- Be a tourist in your own town… allow yourself the opportunity to appreciate the sights and experience the beauty of the place rather than rushing through it.
- Intentionally seek documentaries or films that show the greatest aspects of humanity – great feats and great kindness.