Submitted by Allison Allen
So, I recently read about a little study which I found just fascinating, and so I am returning to a topic I wrote about once before – Awe. As review (though I know you don’t need one, right?) awe is basically a feeling of being small compared to something bigger than you and hard to wrap your mind around. Think starry night sky, an amazing work of art, a mass of people marching for a cause you believe in, the colors of fall. Awe is based on a focus outside of yourself, and feeling it does us good.
This study asked folks in two groups to walk at least once a week for fifteen minutes. They also had them take a selfie at the beginning, middle and end of the walk and answer a few questions about the walk. They also measured mood and wellbeing throughout the study. The first group was just asked to take the walks. The other group was talked to “for about three minutes” about awe and encouraged to keep their eyes open for awe inspiring experiences when they walked.
The results? Reports of awe increased steadily over the course of the eight weeks in the group who were talked to about it, suggesting they got better at experiencing it as time went on. Also, they reported being much more focused on their surroundings, while the other group was more preoccupied with their own thoughts. You will not be surprised to learn that they felt more gratitude and other positive feelings over time. But it gets cooler than that! Those selfies? The awe walking group’s selfies shifted over time such that the person’s image got smaller as they tried to show more of the background in the picture. Their focus was just not as much on themselves. But their smiles (turns out there are people trained to assess this) got stronger compared to the other group. Is it just me or is this all very cool?
Pro Tip: No time for a walk? No worries! With a little practice you can catch the “wow” of awe just by looking around. Take in your family, gathered for a meal. Notice fall colors on the way home from work. You are part of that! Wow!
So there you have it! You have now had at least as much guidance as that research group in how to take an “awe walk.” Consider giving it a try; it will give you a break from your own thoughts, boost your mood, improve your beautiful smile, and come more easily with a little practice. Awesome!
Allison Allen is NorthLakes Community Clinic’s Chief Behavioral Health Officer