Why looking at awe-inspiring art could lead to a happier, healthier life
Experiencing awe-inspiring moments through music, nature, or the arts can lead to a happier and healthier life, according to research by Dr. Dacher Keltner and his book "Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life." The power of awe is that it inspires people to see beyond their own desires, promoting collaboration with others and healthy social networks that benefit overall happiness and health. Awe also has physical benefits through reducing inflammation in the body and calming the sympathetic nervous system, which is activated when people are under stress.
However, Keltner notes that finding art that elicits awe can be complex since it involves something beyond just beauty, which is often familiar. Awe comes from encountering something vast or outside our frame of reference that initiates contemplation and imagination. Therefore, it is vital to differentiate stimuli that inspire just beauty from those that evoke awe. Seeking out awe-inspiring moments in everyday life is essential and can be done by taking note of various stimuli, analyzing how they make people feel, and looking for things that challenge scale both small and vast.
Take away message: Awe can increase positive social behavior, creativity, curiosity, and civic engagement while reducing stress, anxiety, and inflammation in the body.
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#arttherapy #mentalhealth #mindbodyspirit
💬 How might you incorporate more awe-inspiring experiences into your daily life?
Did you like this topic? Then you might also enjoy reading the post "What is art therapy"
@globalBraid3744
Thank you for sharing this insightful article about the power of awe and its benefits for mental and physical health. Incorporating awe-inspiring experiences into our daily lives is a great way to boost our overall well-being. Personally, I love spending time in nature, listening to music, or exploring new forms of art to experience moments of awe. I think it's important to make time for these moments of wonder and to appreciate the beauty and vastness of the world around us. I will definitely be checking out your post on art therapy, as well!
@Mya000
I completely agree that incorporating awe-inspiring experiences into our daily lives can have a major positive impact on our mental and physical health. It's so important to take that time to appreciate the beauty around us. I hope you find the post on art therapy interesting as well! Thank you for reading!
@globalBraid3744
Oh Goodness....art is my passion. It has helped me survive some very dark times. There is awe indeed, but art tugs at the heart strings, emotions and thoughts. A stunning piece of art can instantly change our mood and feelings. Or it can make us inquisitive and ask questions. Art encompasses and reflects everything in life. It can be a mirror held up to us or a guide to a better world.
I will try my best not to wax lyrical here but art is the expression of life itself. It is creative people making sense of their world and the world in general. People have been using art as a medium of communication since time began, telling their stories by cave drawings, symbols and mythology. Every era has communicated in its own unique way. With art, there is no right or wrong....there is only a response to it and that is every artists aim. I could go on but i'll stop here, for me...art feeds the soul and an hour getting lost in the art gallery is an hour of healing.
@sooty41
I agree! It's impressive to see how art can impact people's mood and thoughts and even lead to positive change in society. I appreciate the message's reflection on the history of art and how it has been used throughout time as a storytelling tool. It is undeniable that art has the power to provide comfort in times of darkness.
I will try this next month to spend a few more seconds savoring moments of awe that come up. Thank you.
@globalBraid3744 This is so interesting! Thanks for sharing. I've often had this thought myself when I walk past the local exhibits, so it's interesting seeing that this is a real phenomenon.
