Beyond Words (courtesy Dr. Andy McLean)

I just returned from a conference in Alaska. While I did not see the northern lights during the brief trip, I did get to experience aspects of nature quite different from those found in our region: vast mountains, humpback whales and sea lions, moose and mountain goats.  Such an experience is termed “positive awe.” But there can also be “threat-awe,” which might be experienced during a disaster, which was my focus at the conference in Anchorage, where I presented on the topic of disaster-related mental health.

Positive awe is correlated with a sense of well-being. As opposed to threat-awe, it results in enhancement of the parasympathetic nervous system drive. Boosting this system over time is associated not only with emotional health, but better immune function and stress resilience. Positive awe is also associated with increased oxytocin release and a sense of social connectedness. Tokano and Nomura showed that during such an awe experience, particular parts of the brain (left middle temporal gyrus/supramarginal gyrus) are associated with changes in how we view ourselves in the world (schema liberation). Having a sense that we are “part of something bigger,” a sense of belonging and meaning can also be protective against burnout, an occupational risk factor with elements of cynicism, exhaustion, and a sense of inefficiency. A positive awe experience also can reduce one’s tendency toward negative self-talk, by quieting the brain’s default mode network.

A sense of awe doesn’t need to be a fleeting peak experience. We can intentionally spend a bit of time in “small self” mode, such as reflecting on our role in the greater good, and its meaning.

In my previous column I referenced “social prescribing.” We can build awe-inspiring experiences into our daily lives by taking a few moments to witness something expansive in nature, by listening to or reading inspiring works of literature, by reflecting on episodes of moral beauty. The discipline of protecting a few minutes each day for such a purpose can have a significant impact on our well-being.