Consider practicing a religious faith and attending religious services, as studies indicate this can lead to significantly higher happiness, lower stress and depression, faster recovery from illness, longer life, and increased feelings of support and less loneliness.
Intentionally seek out experiences that evoke awe, as this powerful emotion can make you feel less stressed, less self-absorbed, more connected to others, and ultimately happier by destabilizing you in positive ways.
Become an observer of your thoughts and feelings, taking a seat and not identifying with them so much. This practice can help you feel more in the driver’s seat of your emotional life and less drowned by internal struggles.
Challenge the societal praise of extreme independence and recognize that healthy dependence on something, like a spiritual belief or a supportive relationship, is acceptable and can provide significant comfort.
Once a week, go for a walk somewhere new or unusual with the specific intention of looking for awe-inspiring things. These simple walks have been shown to significantly increase experiences of awe, happiness, and reduce stress.
Open your eyes to the vast and mysterious aspects of ordinary objects and daily experiences, such as the remarkable nature of a common item or the origin of your food. People report experiencing everyday awe multiple times a week just by being observant.
Identify and pursue sources of awe that align with your personal interests and passions, whether it’s science, art, or music. Focusing on what genuinely excites you can be a reliable way to experience wonder.
Regularly visit breathtaking natural places like mountains, forests, or the night sky to experience awe. Being in nature can reduce stress, deactivate self-oriented worrying, and put daily concerns into perspective.
Seek out sublime cultural experiences such as viewing great paintings, reading profound literature, or attending live music concerts. These can trigger powerful moments of transcendence, epiphanies, and collective effervescence.
Actively look for instances of kindness, courage, and resilience in other people, as observing their moral beauty is the most common and powerful source of awe, often found by simply stopping to talk to more people.
Pursue new knowledge and understanding that can reshape your worldview, as moments of profound learning or ’epiphanies’ are a significant source of awe.
Engage in shared group experiences like attending music festivals, clubs, or protest rallies where people move in unison and share attention. This can create a transcendent feeling of collective effervescence and connection.
Share your awe-inspiring discoveries and experiences with other people. Sharing wonder can cut through social barriers and foster connection, leading to unexpected positive social interactions.