Building Your Social Life With Wonder and Curiosity

"For over 10 years, neuroscience has shown us how awe draws our attention out of our nagging thoughts, rumination, and social anxiety. A state of awe deactivates the default mode network (DMN) of our brains and allows us to switch our focus outside of ourselves and beyond self-referential thinking. Being awestruck also allows us to see beyond our expectations and predicted outcomes (beyond our "predictive coding," according to psychologists)."

"Dacher Keltner describes how this emotion of awe invites ways to build meaningful connections. "How does awe transform us? By quieting the nagging, self-critical, overbearing, status-conscious voice of our self or ego, and empowering us to collaborate, to open our minds to wonders, and to see the deep patterns of life" ( Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life)."

"When we feel awe and wonder, we naturally enter the present moment, free of distractions and busy inner chatter. For example, imagine a bright red cardinal suddenly landing on a branch near your window. You're momentarily mesmerized, and time seems to stand still. You become open and curious, a natural response to awe. If another person is in the room with you, or a group of people are there, you might exclaim your wonderment out loud: "Oh wow, did you see that?""

Awe shifts attention away from self-focused rumination and social anxiety by deactivating the brain's default mode network (DMN). This neural change reduces self-referential thinking and opens perception to external stimuli and unexpected patterns beyond predictive expectations. Awe promotes present-moment engagement, curiosity, and openness. Shared experiences of awe produce collective effervescence, dissolving social barriers and fostering feelings of belonging, collaboration, and connection. Brief encounters with striking stimuli can interrupt inner chatter, elicit spontaneous exclamations, and spark social interaction. Repeated experiences of awe can cultivate empathy, cooperation, and a broadened outlook toward others and the world.

Read at Psychology Today