How the Experience of Awe Can Improve Your Well-Being
Awe can mean many things, but we know it when we truly feel it. It is a sense of being in the presence of something vast that transcends our understanding of the world. Awe is typically associated with deep feelings of wonder, astonishment, and sometimes being overwhelmed.
Many of us have a harshly critical inner voice consistently telling us that we’re not good enough, often in a variety of ways. New research suggests that awe seems to quiet this negative self-talk through a specific neurophysiological mechanism: deactivating the part of the brain (the left middle temporal gyrus) involved in self-perception that regulates this default mode neural network.
Other research indicates that experiences of awe diminish our inner critic by reducing self-preoccupation, helping liberate us from the tyranny of our own thinking by shifting attention away from individual interests and concerns and connecting with the wider world around us.
Awe can be intentionally cultivated.
Pay attention. Perhaps surprisingly, awe can be developed through conscious awareness, using our attention intentionally, and persistent practice. In my 12-step fellowship, I’ve heard awe-inspiring stories about the astonishing ways in which people have changed the trajectory of their lives, and ex-cons speak about finding awe in the feel of fresh air, the natural light of the sky, and the power of the message that recovery is possible, even in prison.
Focus on the kindness and caring of others. The simple act of witnessing others engaging in even small meaningful actions of goodwill, kindness, compassion, and generosity of spirit can evoke interpersonal wonder and inspire awe. We can look for such moments as they are often all around us, despite the pervasive negativity of some people and so much of the 24/7 news cycle.
Practice mindfulness. Distraction interferes with the potential to experience awe – most notably, the awe embedded in “smaller” everyday acts. If we’re distracted by our thoughts or the stories that our thoughts create or caught up in some petty, unimportant irritation, we’re not really paying attention and easily miss something that might induce a sense of awe. Mindfulness practices decrease the influence of distractions and help us pay attention more effectively.
Read the complete article available at Psychology Today!
Reflection:
What are you in awe of?
#Awe #Gratitude #Appreciation #Mindset
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@comfortableNight4463 Thanks for sharing!
@purifyyoursoul Thanks for reading!