Name: Awe
Rating: 4.3 (72 reviews)
Author: Dacher Keltner

What’s in it for me? Unlock your life purpose with awe.

Ever feel overwhelmed in the face of something greater than yourself, like an ocean or the vast night sky? That’s awe.

Awe is a unique emotion that can profoundly impact our lives. When we experience awe, it can shift our perspective and help us see things more holistically. This is because it involves a mental and physical readjustment of our place in the world. Feeling awed by something can make us realize there is so much left to witness, and help us recognize that our problems may be small in the grand scheme of things.

In fact, research has shown that those who feel awed regularly report higher life satisfaction, a sense of purpose, lower stress and anxiety levels, and improved cognitive abilities. In this Blink, we’ll explore how awe can transform the following four key areas in our lives: our well-being, our minds, our biases and worldviews, and our inherent ability to return to the present.

Ready to begin the journey to appreciating your best, most awe-inspiring moments?

Awe improves your well-being at multiple levels.

Science has shown that awe can improve our well-being in various ways.

First off, awe can reduce stress. When we experience it, we're more likely to feel positive emotions and a sense of connectedness to the world around us. This can help reduce our levels of cortisol – the stress hormone – which leads to a calmer mind.

Awe can also increase overall life satisfaction. When we take the time to appreciate the world's beauty, we feel more fulfilled and purposeful. Why do we gasp every time we see universally revered mountains and monuments? Simple: awe can help us see things more holistically and realize there are so many experiences and options ahead of us. Suddenly, we can see a greater adventure and new things to explore in the future.

In addition to its psychological benefits, awe can also enhance our physical health. Experiencing awe has been linked to lower levels of inflammation associated with several chronic health conditions. By promoting positive emotions and reducing stress, awe can have a powerful impact on our overall health and well-being.

Essentially, experiencing awe is an essential aspect of human life. By promoting positive emotions, reducing stress, increasing compassion and empathy, and enhancing physical health, awe can truly transform our lives.

So the next time you're in awe of something, take a moment to appreciate it; it will make you feel better.

Awe is food for your mind.

Awe can have some incredible benefits for our cognitive abilities.

First, awe influences creativity and innovation. When we experience it, we tend to think more broadly and theoretically, enabling us to solve problems with creative solutions and open our minds by widening our gates of perception. With awe, our minds can easily consider new possibilities and ideas. It’s not surprising that many great artists and thinkers have drawn inspiration from awe-inspiring experiences. So when you hit a creative dead end, try seeking out new experiences that inspire awe, whether it’s visiting a new city or stargazing on a clear night. You’ll be amazed at how fast solutions pop up in your head!

Awe shatters biases and broadens worldviews.

Besides powering our cognitive abilities, awe can also make us more open-minded. By broadening our perspective and stimulating our creativity, awe can help us become more open to new ideas and experiences.

When awe broadens our perspective, it inspires us to break habitual thinking patterns and explore new ideas. In this way, research has shown that experiences of awe can also help in reducing prejudices and biases. Consider how people who have experienced awe in nature are more likely to support environmental conservation efforts. This includes bridging cultural and political divides as well. In Israel and Palestine, for instance, some people overcome their volatile political and social differences with their shared love of music concerts.

Awe reminds you that life is beautiful – and that it can end anytime.

Have you ever felt like you're going through the motions of life without really living it?

Sometimes, the monotony of our daily routines can make us lose sight of what truly matters. But with awe, we’re reminded that life is short – and we never know when it might end. So why not make the most of it while we still can?

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