Awe & Awe-Walks

When was the last time you felt ‘awe-struck’ and experienced something with pure awe?

Awe is defined as the feeling we get in the presence of vast things not immediately understood. It’s that feeling you get when you climb the top of a mountain and take in the beauty of your surroundings. Perhaps it's standing next to an 800-year old magnificent tree, or the feeling you get when you are looking at a piece of artwork you can’t believe is real.

A study out of Berkeley’s Greater Good Center found that adults who proactively looked for awe reduced their stress levels and felt more connected to their communities and the world around them (Piff et al., 2015).

Our ability as humans to imagine, be curious, experience wonder and awe, and find fulfillment not only enables us to flourish, but also acts as a powerful antidote against burnout and stress. Awe also helps us feel more alive.

Enter the most accessible, enjoyable way to experience awe, no matter where you are: Awe Walks.

Awe Walks was a concept first coined by Sturm et al., 2022 in collaboration with the Memory and Aging Center at U.C.S.F.
The basis of Awe Walks is simple: instead of tuning out your environment by scrolling on your phone or listening to a podcast, proactively take in your surroundings. You might notice the sights, sounds, smells, people, animals, weather, and situations around you. You may even experiment with taking a route you’ve never taken before. Most importantly, try not to use your phone. That’s because to restore and rejuvenate our minds, we have to give ourselves time and space to wander and be imaginative.
When we combine spending time in fresh air, savoring the beauty around us, and intentionally opening ourselves to new experiences, we rejuvenate our creativity and mental health.

Have you ever tried an "awe walk"?

~Kate