How Do You Add Awestruck to Your Daily Life?

We have all experienced that condition which we did not even know what to call; Whether we're looking at a beautiful view after a challenging hike, or watching a new leaf grow on a plant we've been tending indoors, the feeling we get in that moment—amazement, inspiration, moving to another world—is what researchers call awe.

In his new book, The Experience of Awestruck, psychologist Jonah Paquette explains the process behind the experience of awe, revealing its mystery and value to our well-being. By informing readers about various scientific discoveries.

He shows that awe improves our relationships, reduces stress, and makes us happier, and by demonstrating the many benefits of awe, he gives us a reason to seek out more awe experiences in our lives, and then shows us how to do it.

How do we feel Awesome?

The experience of awe, as Paquette defines it, involves two essential components: the experience of vastness, and the experience of transcendence.

The expansion occurs when we come across a landscape like the amazing sunset of the sun, or when we hear an incredible concept like the existence of black holes, to the extent that it is not compatible with our current view of the world, which forces us to expand our understanding and awareness of what is possible, the experience of transcendence occurs when we take this amazing new idea or image before us and try to make sense of it.

For Paquette, the feeling of awe is not only a pleasant feeling of wonder; Rather, it helps us experience a different relationship with the world around us, and shows that when we are overcome with feelings of awe, we often experience what is called a "little self"; That is, the feeling that our ego becomes smaller, and that our needs, hopes, and purpose become more integrated with the people and environment around us.

“Awesomeness blurs the line between self and the world around us, diminishes our ego, and connects us to the larger forces that surround us in the world and in the larger universe,” says Paquette. In this way, awesomeness can serve a double purpose; It enhances our safety while bringing us closer together.

Feel-Good Benefits

Like many positive emotions, awesomeness can make us feel good, but it goes way beyond that. It helps us communicate with others. Here are some of the main benefits of feeling awesome, as recounted by Buckett:

1. Awe lowers stress levels

Awe has been shown to reduce stress levels both in the short and long term. In one of the studies described in the book, researchers examined the effect of experiencing awe on stress levels among urban high school students and war veterans.

Participants in the one-day river rafting trip reduced their stress levels and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, which persisted for weeks later. Importantly, it was not only the time outdoors that reduced symptoms; Rather, it was precisely because of nature's ability to evoke a sense of awe.

The evidence supporting the connection between spending time outdoors, experiencing awe, and lowering stress levels has become so convincing that many clinicians have begun prescribing time spent in nature or green spaces as a kind of medicine in the way that it might help. A person prescribes a new medicine.

2. Awe increases generosity and kindness

In a study conducted at the University of California-Berkely, researchers asked students to spend one minute either staring at the middle of an on-campus eucalyptus grove or staring at a faded science building.

When a "stranger" —in reality, someone working for the researchers — walked by and "accidentally" dropped a box of pens on the ground, participants who felt awe by gazing at the trees were more likely to help the stranger collect the pens. Later, the same participants also scored lower on entitlement, and showed a higher score on their ability to make a moral decision.

Other studies have also found a relationship between awe, generosity, and kindness. Being awed makes us more willing to help people in need, and thus increases our sense of connection with others.

“By giving us the ability to feel connected to one another, to form alliances and act generously, and to explore new possibilities, it stands to reason that the story of human existence would not be possible without experiencing feelings of awe,” Paquette wrote.

3. Awe makes us happier and more satisfied with life

Paquette directs readers to several studies that show how awe can affect our mood. In one study from a few years ago, participants were shown a slideshow of either a familiar landscape like an oak tree, or an inspiring landscape like the Grand Canyon, and asked questions about their mood before and after the slideshow. Both groups showed an improvement in mood, but those who watched the awe-inspiring displays reported a much greater improvement.

While feeling good can make us happier in the short term, research has shown that this benefit also lasts. In a study from the University of California at Berkeley, researchers had participants track their moods and their experience of feeling awe over several weeks.

They found that people experienced awe about twice a week on average, and that the awe experiences gave them increased well-being and a sense of satisfaction with life even weeks later.

According to Paquette, these are just a few of the many studies that confirm our hunch. Awe makes us feel good, and by reducing stress, increasing generosity, and improving our life satisfaction, awe can actually do us good.

How do you live the experience of Awe in everyday life?

Paquette believes that since awe has benefits, we should try to experience them more in our daily lives, and although many of us may associate awe only with holidays or special occasions - such as graduation ceremonies or visiting the Grand Canyon - he describes many of the ways we can incorporate the sense of awe into our daily routine, and help intensify the experience as well.

1. Waiting

Paquette advises that when you feel great, stick with that feeling for as long as you can, and although you may be tempted to move quickly to the next thing, like taking a photo or responding to a notification, you should try to stop doing everything else in order to live what you feel in the present moment for a little longer.

2. Appreciation of the senses

Focus deeply with your awareness of color, texture, smell and sound, with what you hear and see. Paquette advises that as you walk, stretch, or breathe deeply, you should allow yourself to focus deeply on the senses that connect you to the world, and be amazed at what you find.

3. Deceleration

Take time to show a sense of wonder in ordinary life. When you water the plants, gently look for new leaves and buds. While eating, consider the time and energy you have spent preparing the food in front of you; By slowing down and appreciating the patience and effort that go into the routine things we do, Paquette assures us, we will find that it is the feeling of awe that will inspire us.

4. Stay away from electronic devices

Many of us depend on technology at work or to communicate with others, and while it is good to deliberately stay away from using electronic devices, and give ourselves the opportunity to communicate with ourselves.

Paquette explains it as follows: Somewhat unexpectedly, technology can make us feel more isolated and lonely by removing us from the present moment. He suggests putting down your phone and going for a walk, to the park, or making a meal, every day without taking a single photo or sharing it on social media.

5. Walk

Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature reduces stress and improves our physical and mental health by lowering blood pressure, enhancing focus, and strengthening our immune system. The feeling of awe is, in fact, one of the main factors that make the influence of nature so powerful. So go for an awe-inspiring walk, and allow the world around you to make you feel great.

6. Writing down times

Paquette urges us to rethink our most amazing holidays, events, and moments, and to take the time to document them; In the sense that we document the place we were in, the people there, and the feeling we had at the time; This easy habit can make you feel less pressed for time, and make you more generous, too.

Why do we need to feel awesome more than ever?

Paquette wrote this book before the COVID-19 pandemic began. But it seems more important than ever. As we navigate the restrictions imposed on us by the pandemic and the emotional stress that comes with it, the tried-and-true ways to take care of our mental health, such as calling a friend, exercising and meditating, may not be the right things.

Searching for awe-inspiring experiences is a unique way to reduce feelings of stress while simultaneously finding happiness and connection during this time, as Paquette helps us see.

It does not take much to experience magnificence; Just going for a walk in our neighborhood and deliberately observing our surroundings can give us a better sense of awe, and as hard as it is to live in that state of awe, we can all benefit from that moment even if it's just a tiny bit.