Finding the 'Awe' in 'Awful'
In response to COVID-19 the ‘Live Up’ COVID COMMUNITY was set up to support our communities with practical wellbeing resources that can be used for these extraordinary circumstances of social distancing, community lockdown and quarantine. This article is based around ‘Taking Notice’ one of the 5 Ways of Wellbeing. Out of this ‘awful’ experience, what are the little ‘awesome’ things you’ve noticed in everyday life?
Here is a link to printable template that you might like to list your positive ‘awe’ experiences.
Awe
I wrote about ‘finding the AWE in AWESOME’ when I was doing my ‘19 for 19’ challenge which was 19 wellbeing challenges lasting 19 days in 2019. When writing that article I was on a family camping trip enjoy Summer adventures which is a very different situation from what we are experiencing globally with COVID-19.
To me Awe is the feeling of something that is bigger than myself, it transcends who I am as an individual. Awe gives me a sense of the ‘bigger picture’ of life. One of my favorite emotion researchers Dacher Keltner describes awe as “the feeling of something vast that transcends your understanding of the world”. Awe brings out the wonder and the curiosity within ourselves and is commonly found in nature and other people. Awe can be experienced in the moments in life that take your breath away like the birth of a child, a stunning sunset, religious experiences, a mountain vista, beautiful music, amazing food, and a full moon.
It is important to note that not all Awe experiences have positive effects and Awe experiences can induce fear and powerlessness such as war/natural disasters and of course Global pandemics like we are experiencing now with COVID-19.
Can experiencing ‘Awe’ be good for your wellbeing?
From an evolutionary perspective ‘Awe’ experiences allowed groups to cooperate together especially during uncertain circumstances. With my experiences of living through the Christchurch Earthquakes this certainly was true for the Canterbury community where people bonded together like never before, but I definitely felt scared and out of control most of the time! Scientists are just beginning to understand the complexity of the ‘Awe’ emotion but research shows that ‘Awe’ can help us feel good and bring out other positive emotions such as joy, happiness and gratitude. Combined with curiosity, amazement and wonder ‘Awe’ can make us more generous. ‘Awe’ sharpens our minds, makes us feel small, keeps us in the moment as time seems to expand and helps us realise there is more to life than just ourselves.
However, here is the reality. For many of us this COVID-19 is not a pleasant experience and we are filled with fear, uncertainty and a sense of powerlessness, which we know is not so great for our wellbeing. So, out of this ‘awful’ experience is it possible to notice some of the little ‘awesome’ things in everyday life?
Here’s a few things I have been in ‘Awe’ of:
the amazing health care and essential service people that are holding it all together for the greater good of many.
use amazing technology that can connect people from all over the world.
the beauty in the sunrises, sunsets, stars and the moon.
the colours of the changing season.
all the people who have helped set up the ‘Live Up’ COVID Community.
my family who have made me smile day after day.
Focusing on the positives doesn’t mean that everything goes away and this COVID situation is minimised, I just find it helpful to shift my mindset from fear-based survival instincts to focusing on what I can actually do in this situation.
Out of this ‘awful’ experience, what are the little ‘awesome’ things you’ve noticed in everyday life?
Here is a link to printable template that you might like to list your positive ‘awe’ experiences.
References:
What is Awe? Greater Good Science Centre