An article by David Robson of the BBC explores the idea that when we seek the feeling of awe, we will experience cognitive and emotional benefits. Ethan Kross, professor of psychology at the University of Michigan, explains that “feelings of awe can have a truly profound influence on the mind — enhancing our memory and creativity as well as inspiring us to act more altruistically to the people around us. It can also have a profound impact on our mental health, by allowing us to put our anxieties into perspective.” As Michelle Shiota, professor of social psychology at Arizona State University, puts it, “the brain is constantly forming predictions of what will happen next; it uses its experiences to form mental stimulations that guide our perception, attention and behavior. Awe-inspiring experiences — with their sense of grandeur, wonder and amazement — may confound those expectations, creating a ‘little earthquake’ in the mind that causes the brain to reassess its assumptions and to pay more attention to what is actually in front of it.” So, next time you’re in a mental rut, lacking creativity, or feeling anxious, seek out or think about something awe-some, like how we can talk to a loved one across the globe through our phones or how we can send humans to the moon.
https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220103-awe-the-little-earthquake-that-could-free-your-mind