An Awe Walk

A study on the effects of an “awe walk” revealed people found awe in the ordinary such as “a friend’s generosity, a leafy tree’s play of light and shadow on a sidewalk, a song that transported them back to a first love.” They found that even a few moments of awe can “reduce stress, decrease inflammation, and benefit the cardiovascular system.” They also reported less distress and more compassion and amusement. In an “awe walk,” people are asked to tap into a childlike sense of wonder, notice both the panoramic and the detail, and go somewhere new or notice something new. Awe-walkers felt more awe the more they practiced. “We are well served by opening ourselves to awe wherever we can find it, even if only for a moment or two.”