I stopped for a moment to enjoy this view in my neighborhood during a morning walk.
Did you know that walking in awe is good for you? A friend sent me an article called “Scientists Asked People To Do 1 Thing Differently While Taking A Walk. The Results Were Astounding” from a podcast called “Am I Doing It Wrong?” from the Huff Post.
I naturally walk with awe. I take my time, stop and take photos. I’m in awe of desert plants, the mountains, the wildlife. I didn’t know I was making myself healthier by being in the moment and walking with awe. But I am! Isn’t that amazing?
Here’s a snippet from the article:
Dacher Keltner is on a mission to fill our lives with more awe.
He has spent the last two decades studying awe, which he says is distinct from joy or fear, and how experiencing it can positively affect our bodies, our relationships with others and how we see and interact with the world around us.
Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center recently chatted with us — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — about his work, specifically why we should try to inject more awe into our lives, and what will happen if we do.
“It’s amazing! It tells us so much about the evolution of the human nervous system,” Keltner, the author of “Awe: The New Science Of Everyday Wonder And How It Can Transform Your Life,” told us. “One region of the brain is deactivated [when we experience awe] — the default mode network. That is where all the self-representational processes take place: I’m thinking about myself, my time, my goals, my strivings, my checklist. That quiets down during awe.”
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/awe-walk-wonder-dacher-keltner-2_l_66f84f7ce4b027bd4385f324
When you make a practice of experiencing awe, Keltner said you’ll have more and more awe in your life. Some of the benefits include less inflamation, less pain and better relationships.
Okay guys, let’s get out there and walk in awe. Let go of our to do lists and enjoy the moment in nature.
What are your thoughts of walking in awe?
Is it something you do already or something you’ll try?
It’s an amazing view! Awe inspiring indeed.
Thank you. I love where we live. Beautiful views all around.
You’re welcome 💚💛💚
Love this — love Keltner! Thanks for the inspo, Elizabeth. A walk sounds darn good right now. 😎
Thanks! I’m headed out the door!
Every time I go outside I am taking in all the beauty. The first time I tried to leave my phone at home – I saw the most beautiful sky ever. <3 I just soaked it in. Lovely to hear the science behind this. A good reminder that getting out at least once a day is important.
Yes! Leaving the phone behind can be good. Although I like to take photos.
Yes I take my phone with me most outings. I thought it to be comical that I left it home the day I saw the most beautiful sky ever.
Ha! I have found that I paid more attention to the birds singing and the sights when I left my phone home. But I do like to take photos.
I love this, Elizabeth! And Dacher Keltner is amazing. I thought his observation that awe got left behind as an emotion to study because it’s harder to classify rang true. Thanks for taking us along on your walks!
My daughter works at UC Berkeley, so I sent her the article. She doesn’t know Keltner, but we both agreed that we enjoy his outlook and what he’s studying.
You miss so much about life if you fail to just look around you. Glad you have found your own moments of awe EA 🙂
Yes, I used to walk listening to a podcast. It’s so much better to be enjoying nature around us.
“When you make a practice of experiencing awe, Keltner said you’ll have more and more awe in your life.” I tend to think the reverse is true too. When you walk in contempt and indifference, I think you find examples of those too. Better to be awe inspired than gloomy and unfeeling to the world around you!
I believe you’re correct. We can determine our outlook and change course if we find ourselves in contempt and indifference.
I love this idea. Finding awe in your everyday life..
👍
Yes! I am definitely going to focus on finding awe.
Wow! This is exactly in line with what I wrote to be published tomorrow! Now people who read both of our blogs will understand the science. :). God is so good- He created us to be healthier and emotionally more well when we regard Him as He truly is. When we walk in relationship with Him, we can’t help but be in awe -more and more every day- and that scientifically gets our mind out of our anxious pattern and sets us right. Our God is an awesome God!
I can’t wait to read your blog tomorrow! God is good!
All the time!
💕
My way of adding awe to daily walks is to pick a color before I leave the house then look for that color along the way. It’s fun and I never spot the same things even when looking for the same color a few days later.
That’s a great idea. Looking for new things does add awe.
I have found that taking pictures helps me see things I may have missed. My husband and I take the same 3-mile neighborhood walk just about every day, but I always find something to amaze me. All it takes is to open our eyes and take in what is around us.
I agree with you on taking photos. We also take the same walk but there’s always something new to see.
I have 5 poems, which I wrote as affirmations. I recited them while I walk. That’s now quite as good as an “Awe” moment, but it’s much better than an “Aw, shit” moment.
That’s great 😅
Lovely photo, and I’ve always walked in awe. One of the reasons I don’t like to be plugged in. As much as I love music, when I’m outdoors, I focus on my surroundings and the sound of nature. I’ve seen a million sunsets, but each one is viewed like the first time and I am in awe.
I am with you on listening to nature when I’m out walking. Your sense of awe is reflected in your poetry.