"Lately, I've been fascinated by the concept of awe. While the subject has been explored extensively by philosophers and religious scholars for ages, it wasn't until the early 2000s that psychologists began to empirically research its mental health benefits. And the results are quite exciting. As one study concluded, "Awe is a complex and transformative emotion that can restructure individuals' mental frames so deeply that it could be considered a therapeutic asset for major mental health issues, including depression" ( Front. Psychol., 25 April 2021)."
"I've always associated it with life-changing experiences, magnificent vistas, sights that take your breath away and make you feel your insignificance in the whole schema of the universe. Like the time I was on safari in Africa, and a herd of elephants came tramping down from the hills to the watering hole right beneath my window. That moment was so awe-inspiring."
Psychological research since the early 2000s shows awe offers mental health benefits and can restructure mental frames, potentially serving as a therapeutic asset for conditions including depression. Awe often arises from life-changing experiences, vast vistas, or moments that induce feelings of smallness relative to the universe. Such powerful episodes can prompt major life changes. Those extraordinary events are infrequent, making sustained access to awe elusive in everyday life. Mindful awareness and small moments of wonder can evoke awe without grand external spectacles. Cultivating such accessible awe may support ongoing recovery and enrich daily experience.
Read at Psychology Today
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