The power of awe

Feb 18, 2022 | Marie Suszynski, Writer | @mariemayohecs | Comments (22)

Gazing at a sunset. Seeing a close friend reach a goal she’s sought for years. Walking your daughter down the aisle at her wedding. These experiences have something in common: They inspire a sense of awe. Feelings of warmth and positivity flood your mind in a way that doesn’t happen when doing laundry.

Experiencing awe carries significant benefits to physical and mental health, according to research. Doctors still don’t fully understand the underlying mechanisms, but studies show positive effects — reduced inflammation, lower stress, and improved heart rate and diastolic blood pressure — in people who report regularly feeling wonder or awe.

Getting out in nature is the most common way for people to feel that sense of awe. But it’s not the only way. Relationships with other people can produce feelings of awe. Experiencing art, music or other forms of personal expression can produce it, too.

Mayo Clinic experts say that you should make a point of having awe-inspiring experiences, especially in these times of distractions, worries and distress.

Some ways to focus a part of each day on inspiring awe include:

Keeping a portfolio — either virtually or on paper — of awe-inspiring quotes and pictures
Practicing meditation or similar mind-centering activities
Bringing a sense of wonder to small, daily things that often get overlooked, such as a bumblebee exploring a flower, a grandchild’s delight or an elegantly crafted piece of furniture

Connect with others looking for ways to enhance their health in the Healthy Living group.

Looking for more inspiration? Health tips can be delivered to your mailbox monthly with a Mayo Clinic Health Letter subscription.

Interested in more newsfeed posts like this? Go to the Aging & Health: Take Charge blog.

rfherald | @rfherald | Jul 15, 2022

In reply to @rfherald "What brings me moments of awe? "...being immersed in nature, holding a small child’s hand, petting..." + (show)

On second thought, just because God, religion and spiritualism don't bring ME awe, it doesn't mean it doesn't bring others awe. What brings awe is an individual's prerogative. I remove my objection.

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 15, 2022

In reply to @rfherald "What brings me moments of awe? "...being immersed in nature, holding a small child’s hand, petting..." + (show)

I totally concur with you. ☺️ My awe isn’t inspired by God or religion either. But, like you mentioned in your next reply, we should respect that it can instill awe in others. I just hate to steal anyone’s joy.
I’m also inspired by nature and all her critters. I live in a forest…being a devoted tree hugger. I’m fascinated with raising monarchs and after my bone marrow transplant, I’m even more fascinated with the complexity of the human body and especially the intricacies of our blood. That truly is awe inspiring!
I gravitate to any program from David Attenborough, (and I enjoy films with Richard Attenborough as well). We are on the same page. Thank you for understanding my intentions. ☺️
And if you want to truly be impressed, you should see what a simple mosquito can do to me now that I have a completely new blood type! 😅

Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Jul 15, 2022

I was scrolling thru discussions this morning as I was waiting for my appointment with my PCP.
I came upon this conversation. Now that I'm home and on computer, I want to jump in here to let you know that Mayo Community Guidelines offers 12 short rules of conduct that help keep the Mayo Clinic Connect community safe, supportive, inclusive, and respectful. I have copied part of Guideline #2 in hopes that it will allow all of us to give full attention to the Power of Awe :
__________________
#2 - Remain respectful at all times.
-Exercise tolerance and respect toward other participants whose views may differ from your own. Disagreements are fine, but mutual respect is a must.
- Be inclusive. Not everyone shares the same religious or political beliefs. Don't impose your beliefs on others.
____________________
Blogs>About Connect: Who, What & Why>Community Guidelines
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/about-connect/tab/community-guidelines/

riana1 | @riana1 | Jul 15, 2022

What brings me awe? Walking on a broken foot with no pain. Doctor’s like how is this possible? I responded it’s a miracle. We both broke out in grins simultaneously.

I thank God often for this blessing of a pain free injury during healing. Life is good 😊

rfherald | @rfherald | Jul 16, 2022

In reply to @loribmt "I totally concur with you. ☺️ My awe isn’t inspired by God or religion either. But,..." + (show)

Thanks Lori. Yes, it's refreshingly comfortable to meet a friend who has so many similarities to me. There's a lot of that missing today. Maybe if we all just communicated as we just did...

rfherald | @rfherald | Jul 16, 2022

In reply to @loribmt "I totally concur with you. ☺️ My awe isn’t inspired by God or religion either. But,..." + (show)

Well, I'm impressed! I didn't know we could change blood types. I am O+, clearly a mosquito's favorite meal!

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Jul 16, 2022

In reply to @rfherald "Well, I'm impressed! I didn't know we could change blood types. I am O+, clearly a..." + (show)

I didn’t know we could change blood types either! But through the “miracle of modern science and better living through chemistry” I’m living proof it can be done.
Three years ago I was diagnosed with AML-an aggressive form of leukemia. Chemo got me to remission. But because a couple of random mutations had occurred, they rendered my current immune system obsolete (no longer able to detect and destroy cancer cells) that put me in a high category for relapse. A bone marrow transplant was my only option if I didn’t want to be pushing up daisies from the underside.
Through the unselfish donation of stem cells from an anonymous, unrelated, 20 year old male donor, I am alive today. He was my 1 (of 2) in 22,000,000 on the registry who matched me. I’m now a Chimera with 2 sets of DNA, carry his blood type and his bone marrow…giving me a new immune system to replace my defective factory installed model. He’s type 0+. I was formerly B+.
So if you wonder what gives me awe? That does! Science, medicine, education, research that can give someone a completely new immune system so they get a second chance at life. I don’t take one day or one moment for granted any more. I enjoy every small or simple pleasure.

And though I said in a previous reply that I’m not inspired by God, it doesn’t mean that I don’t believe there is an entity of higher power. I just don’t know! Being from a deeply religious family, I even attended parochial school. But I had to question things after a number of tragedies over the years. However, during my illness and recovery, being privy to the intricacies of the human body where every cell, every minute detail interfaces with something else, and this is repeated in every single living entity on this earth, I couldn’t help but feel…and I am very loosely paraphrasing a quotation by Voltaire here, but it became increasingly difficult to imagine a watch without a watch maker.
So no matter how I arrived at this point in my life, I am in awe of the fact that I am still here. That with my new blood type of 0+ , mosquitoes clearly see me as that fresh steaming bowl of biscuits and gravy on the counter at Golden Corral! 🦟 And can leave me with welts the size of a grapefruit! 😉

rfherald | @rfherald | Jul 16, 2022

My gosh! You should write a book. Then when it's picked up as a movie, you could make a huge donation to a new foundation that could help others with what you went through! I already know you're not the kind of person to squander it on a private jet or yacht.

You have really been through a lot. I'm sure you know, and now at least one more does, too.