Awe

February 18, 2013

In a world where ‘awesome’ has become a daily declaration, with exclamations such as “That burger was awesome”….really? Perhaps we should rediscover the true meaning of awe, because according to Professor Jennifer  Aaker of Stanford University, perhaps thats all you need to do to increase your happiness and create a more meaningful life. She says…

“One reason we started to examine awe is that it is an understudied emotion – particularly relative to happiness. A second reason is that it has unique consequences. When you feel awe, you are experiencing a positive emotion that feels vast and big, and as a result is capable of altering one’s view of the world. Our studies focus on the effects of awe on how people may alter their sense of time – that is, the way they perceive and use time.

We show that when people feel awe, they feel like they have more available time on their hands. And as a result, they are more willing to volunteer to help others, and spend time on others. They also tend to make very different product choices, preferring experiential products over material products. They even experience a boost in life satisfaction.”

Looking at awe-inspiring photos, visiting a museum or aquarium, and just generally increasing your sense of wonderment could all subtly improve your life.

Have a curious day.