What moments of awe have you experienced from nature?
When study participants were prompted to actively “seek awe,” they seemed to create a self-fulfilling prophecy and actually had more “wow!” moments than a control group that wasn’t instructed to be on the lookout for nature-based stimuli that elicited awe. Virginia Sturm, Dacher Keltner, and their co-authors reported in Psychology Today.
Awe from Nature
We can experience nature on awe walks, awe drives, and through images, art, music, and poetry. Incorporating nature in these awe practices can elevate the awe factor.
As with many people, my highest-rated inspiration for awe is nature. Now, nature is an awe practice and prompt at For Awe. Share your experiences of feeling awe from nature. The act of sharing can increase the intensity of the feeling, and it can inspire feelings of awe in others.
Photographing nature is one of my favorite things to do. The birds above were spotted on an airboat ride in the Everglades.
Sometimes I even collect little bits of nature like shells, rocks, leaves, and seed pods to bring inside to remind me of my nature experiences.
The other day I bent down to pick up a beautiful little shell on the beach. It looked like a sunset.
Upon closer inspection, I realized this was not just a shell. It was a creature, and it was alive. It surprised me. It made me wonder how many of these little creatures I may have unknowingly collected in the past when I was collecting what I thought were just shells.
It also made me wonder how sliding a wet tongue along the sand would feel. No, I didn’t try it. I was already sure it would not be a good feeling for me, but I still wonder what it feels like for them. I was in awe of how differently all living things experience the world.
There are so many aspects of nature that can inspire awe. There are many ways to experience it. Researchers have worked to prove the benefits of awe from nature.
The power of nature to both heal and inspire awe has been noted by many great thinkers. Anderson, Monroy, & Keltner published findings that awe plays an important role in nature’s ability to decrease stress and increase well-being.
Study 1, military veterans and youth from underserved communities went white water rafting. Their symptoms of stress and their overall well-being were measured. The results showed that the amount of awe the participants experienced could predict the extent to which their symptoms of stress and indicators of well-being had improved one week later.
Study 2, the nature experiences that undergraduate students had during their everyday lives led to more awe, which mediated the effect of nature experience on improvements in well-being.
(American Psychological Assoc. Journal, Emotion. Dec. 2018).
I feel the impact of awe from nature in my life almost every day. I am awe-sensitive. Many people could also if they slowed down. Imagine seeing a prescription to take in a sunset. That is how powerful awe from nature can be. If you don’t believe it, check out the prescription for yourself. Also, notice awe from nature on the list of the 10 happiness practices this doctor prescribes to his patients.
I am not a doctor, and I have not actually received this prescription, but I have written about awe as a prescription and sunsets as the medicine:
I Felt Awe in A Sunset
And in every single one after thatmedium.com
Nature is so many things. It is a great source of awe. Feeling awe from observing and interacting with nature is a great way to improve our well-being. Experience it. Enjoy it. Protect it.
Even on a gray day, awe from nature can be just what we need to see the bright side of life.
Seeing Past the Gray Days
An awe walkmedium.com
What moments of awe have you experienced from nature?
Thanks for reading! I hope everyone slows down to experience awe from nature.
Science suggests there are many benefits from writing and sharing experiences of feeling awe. Share your stories:
Awe Practices and Prompts
Practicing awe with the publication For Awe (updated 12/1/2021)medium.com
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About My Writing Journey — For Awe — Awe Store — Vantage Points for Awe