psychology
The Awe Walk method helps us go through life more contentedly
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An “Awe Walk”? What is that supposed to be? It literally means something like “walk in awe”. We’ll tell you what positive benefits this brings.
When walking, be awestruck – that is, have reverence or respect for the things we see around us. How do we achieve this? Can this happen on a route we are familiar with or do we have to go to the nearest hiking area? Luckily, we can go on so-called “Awe Walks” all the time, right on our doorstep. It is important that we pay attention to our surroundings and become aware of the things that we normally take for granted.
How to do an “Awe Walk”
You feel small while feeling something big. It can be the freedom on an endless beach, a beautiful sunset in the distance and yes, even the joy when your favorite star has just won an award. In these moments we are overcome by a feeling of awe. We look at the vastness of nature, of life, of the entire world. The focus is no longer on our fears, problems and worries, but on this vastness, on the presence of the outside world. Dr. Virginia Sturm, lead researcher and professor of neurology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, describes the desired feeling as follows:
One of the key features of awe is that it promotes what we call “small self,” a healthy sense of proportion between one’s self and the larger picture of the world around one.
To achieve this, you don’t need to drive to a beach for your “Awe Walk” or stay up late to watch the sun go down. All you have to do is just start from your home. It is then important that you direct your perception not inward, but outward. Realize what is around you – whether fixed or temporary. This means: no cell phone, no thinking about problems, but rather targeted, proactive perception of sounds, smells and sights. Just a few minutes are enough for us to feel awe, she showed Researcher’s study in which 15-minute walks were taken.
Awe makes you happier and more grateful
In addition to the group that consciously completed “Awe Walks,” there was a control group that went on normal hikes. After the walks, all participants summarized their emotions and experiences in short questionnaires. The result: people who went on “awe walks” reported positive feelings such as compassion, gratitude and appreciation. Her smile also increased in selfies taken at the beginning, during and at the end. For example, their perception was focused on the beautiful natural colors instead of thinking about upcoming to-dos like in the control group. People lived in the here and now, admired and enjoyed. The participants in “Awe Walks” compared the feeling during the walks to the feeling you felt as a child when you explored the big wide world.
And when would be a better time than now to rediscover the world?
Sources used: psychologytoday.com, psychiatry.ucsf.edu, psycnet.apa.org, thegoodtrade.com