Recent research has increased our understanding of the important role positive emotions have on our physical health. One emotion in particular has a quick and striking impact: the sense of awe.
We feel awe when touched by the power or beauty of nature, or through art, exquisite music, or a moving spiritual experiences.
How Awe affects us
Awe and other positive emotions lower our levels of certain cytokines, which are signaling molecules that help cells communicate with one another. In this case they are pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6), which are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder. High levels of these cytokines are associated with auto-immune disorders and depression. Neurobiologists believe that when these cytokines signal the brain to produce more inflammatory molecules, they also block or decrease the production some key hormones and neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, that regulate our moods, sleep, memory and appetite. Thus, having high levels these particular cytokines, seems to reduce chemicals associated with positive feelings.
A number of recent studies have shown that experiencing awe can boost positive emotions AND also reduces the pro-inflammatory cytokines. One particularly interesting study (Stellar, et. al. 2015) shows that when subjects experience awe, wonder and amazement they have lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
This, and several other new studies, give one of those rare clear messages from science: Want to improve your mood, or your child’s mood? Get a quick boost of awe.
The Experience of Awe
Awe experiences have several features: there is a feeling of wonder coupled with a sense of enormity and recognizing something that seems unfathomable. An awe experience challenges our understanding and fills us with amazement. A number of reports from the Greater Good Science Foundation at U C Berkeley point out that awe gives us a sense of vastness, that puts our own comparatively small place in the world into perspective.
These kinds of awe experiences are very positive ones that fill people with inspiration, amazement and perhaps gratitude. But there are also amazing experiences that are frightening and experiencing these causes a very different physiological response, including increased heart rates and stress. Those threatening or dangerous experiences are sometimes described as awe-filled, but they obviously don’t have the emotion boosting effect of positive ones. Sometimes when we have a sense of what is incomprehensible we may feel fear or concern. Some children may feel this, staring at the galaxy for example, so it is important to be aware of these possibly different reactions. Awe boosts emotions; feeling overwhelmed does not.
How you can use this information
♥ If you or your child are feeling uninspired, stressed, or unhappy, getting a quick shot of awe is one more tool you can use to turn those feelings around. You can use this with your child in many situations.
♥ You may want to try a boost of awe when your child is feeling: let-down or disappointed; overwhelmed by homework or an event; left out; stressed.
Here’s how to get a boost of awe
* Look at videos or photos of that portray the grandeur of nature or the cosmos. You can find videos by typing “awe videos” into your search engine. The National geographic is one good source. Here is one link you may want to try: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=N6-2fVsFV8E
Also, the national geographic sponsored a series called “shots of awe” that cover many kinds of awe-filling experiences. You can find out about these with this link: https://www.youtube.com/user/ShotsOfAwe
* If you’re fortunate to live near a tall forest, a waterfall, cliffs, broad fields, open skies or other natural wonders take an awe walk. (And take you child along too!)
* If you love rich classical music, choose something magnificent and listen. If you love visual arts, visit a museum or look at books or on-line photos.
Reference
Stellar, J., John-Henderson, N., Anderson, C, Gordon, A., McNeil, G., Keltner, D. (2015). Positive affect and markers of inflammation: discrete positive emotions predict lower levels of inflammatory cytokines. Emotion, 15, 129-133