Awe, as defined by the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, is that goose-bumpy sensation we get in the presence of something profound, something greater, more powerful, or more eternal than ourselves. It arises when we encounter things that challenge our sense of what’s normal or possible.

Source: cdn2.psychologytoday.com

Research has shown that awe has a profound impact on our creative potential. In a recent study, researchers conducted complementary studies using surveys, experimental awe videos, and creativity assessments. What they discovered was that individuals demonstrated significantly higher levels of creativity after an ‘awesome’ event. So, too, did awe increase their cognitive flexibility as well as creative self-efficacy.

But awe is not just about big events; it can be found in the small, everyday moments that often go unnoticed. By incorporating awe into our daily lives, we can broaden our attention, increase cognitive flexibility, and stimulate our inherent curiosity – all necessary for creativity to happen.

What the Research Says

Studies have consistently shown that awe has a positive impact on our creative potential. In one study, researchers examined the relationship between awe and creativity in 257 adults over a four-month period. What they discovered was that awe doesn’t just make people feel inspired; it changes the way they think by increasing mental flexibility and confidence in generating novel ideas.

Another study found that awe enhances the mental conditions that support creative thinking. Participants assigned to an awe-intervention group reported greater awe, lower stress, and improved psychological well-being when compared to those in a control group. The researchers concluded that reduced stress and greater cognitive openness create conditions that facilitate creative insight and flexible problem-solving.

But how can we incorporate awe into our daily lives? Here are a few activities for your consideration:

Putting Research Into Practice

• Awe Walk: Leave your phone at home and walk through your neighborhood for 30 minutes. Look up (instead of down), intentionally noticing things often taken for granted: the unique shape of a cloud, the singular pattern of a tree’s bark, the dulcet song of a bird, the commanding architecture of a building, or a splash of light upon a car window.
• Expand Your Reading: Regularly select some nonfiction reading material about a topic you know little about. This may include topics such as Irish lighthouses, Egyptian archeology, the physics of water, how trees communicate, or nocturnal mammals.
• Awe Journal: Maintain a notebook into which you record awesome events. Try to pen an experience regularly—one that makes you say ‘Wow!’ or ‘Amazing!’ These may include a beautiful piece of music, a rediscovered photograph, someone’s unexpected question, the playfulness of a child, or an unusual gift.
• For the First Time: Each day, select a common object and pretend you are seeing it for the first time. For example: a fallen leaf, a spoon, your fingers, a button, a weed in your garden, or a neighbor’s house.
• Celebration Awe: Some of the most delightful examples of awe are when we recognize the kindness, outreach, and generosity of others. The best question we can ask ourselves is, ‘Who inspired me today?’
• Unanswered Questions: Get in the habit of asking and recording questions with no easy answers. A few examples may include, ‘Why are some birds flightless?’, ‘Why do children invent imaginary friends?’, or ‘How do we know the universe is expanding?’
• Travel Awe: Make it a regular practice to experience something that truly amazes and delights—both near and far.

Conclusion

By incorporating awe into our daily lives, we can broaden our attention, increase cognitive flexibility, and stimulate our inherent curiosity – all necessary for creativity to happen. So, take the first step today and start noticing the awe-inspiring moments that surround you.