Week 10 Post 2

Awe, or the feeling of being in the presence of something vast and greater than the self, that exceeds current knowledge structures, is a proven factor of one's happiness. In the past, it was referred to as a religious experience, or the feeling of being in the presence of God. Over time, people began to realize it revolved around nature, not religion. Ralph Waldo Emerson, a famous philosopher, described it as one's transcendent self in nature. Some of the most apparent benefits of awe are that it boosts happiness, increases intellectual curiosity, deepens the sense of modesty and humility, and lowers cytokine levels, which is good for your health. However, research has proven there to be much more benefits of awe. It heightens senses of kindness and altruism, lowers senses of impatience, and can boost the immune system due to lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder. High levels of cytokines are associated with poorer health and such disorders as type-2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and even Alzheimer’s disease and clinical depression. Awe also makes people more generous. When people experience awe, research has shown that they then want to share that experience with other people, suggesting that awe has a particularly viral component to it. People can increase the frequency of the experience by partaking in certain activities that are known to bring it on. Laughter is a great example; it is seen in all ages of humans because it emerges as a reflex very early in the mind of the human infant. Laughter is also proven to decrease blood pressure, enhance immune function, reduce chronic pain, and predict relationship satisfaction. Another activity that causes feelings of awe is play. In order for an action to be considered play, it has to be apparently purposeless, voluntary, inherently attractive, free of time constraints, improvisational, and lead to a diminished consciousness of one's self. Lastly, there is narrative. The two forms of narrative include "micro-narratives" that narrate daily stresses and triumphs, and a meta-narrative of one's self and their life's journey.

The presence of nature in one's life can make all the difference when it comes to happiness. Awe is crucial and can help people get over the bad in their life. If people spend more time in nature and appreciate the excitement of the world around them, they can live a more happy life. Something as simple as a 15 minute walk outside in the middle of a busy day to something as complex as a 5 mile hike can brighten people's lives.