24. Exploring the Research Behind Awe Walks and Their Emotional Impact

Connection Therapy

In today’s episode, Brenda unpacks a research study that explores the profound impact of something as simple as a walk. The study focused on older adults and how engaging with awe during a walk could change their emotional and mental well-being.

Participants were asked to take weekly walks and snap photos along the way—pictures of themselves and anything that caught their attention. They were encouraged to seek out things that sparked wonder, whether it was the beauty of a natural setting or something unexpected.

What the study revealed was fascinating. The participants who sought out awe in their surroundings tended to take photos where their surroundings took up more of the frame, and over time focused less on themselves. This focus on the environment, or the “small self,” suggested that by shifting their attention away from themselves, they felt more connected to the world around them. Their smiles were also significantly more intense—an indication of emotional uplift.

Brenda discusses how this shift in perspective can be applied in therapy. Whether in therapy or at home, the act of intentionally seeking awe can bring about significant shifts in mood and self-perception.

The takeaway here is simple but impactful, emphasizing that even the slightest shift in perspective can have a meaningful impact.

References:

Sturm, V. E., Datta, S., Roy, A. R. K., Sible, I. J., Kosik, E. L., Veziris, C. R., Chow, T. E., Morris, N. A., Neuhaus, J., Kramer, J. H., Miller, B. L., Holley, S. R., & Keltner, D. (2022). Big smile, small self: Awe walks promote prosocial positive emotions in older adults. Emotion, 22(5), 1044–1058. https://doi-org.pgi.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/emo0000876