Awe Narratives: A Mindfulness Practice to Enhance Resilience and Wellbeing

Abstract

It is necessary to have available a variety of evidence-based resilience practices as we experience life’s stressors including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Evoking, experiencing, and reflecting on awe moments by developing and sharing an “awe narrative” are a type of mindfulness technique that can have the potential to help someone flourish, enhance their resilience, and have a positive impact on their overall wellbeing. This paper explores how constructing an awe narrative can assist the individual while also possibly having a positive impact on others.

Enhancing resilience: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of The Awe Project

“…Themes were established in a manner consistent with previous qualitative research approaches and recommendations, while also taking into account themes that emerged in previous, related awe studies (Bonner & Friedman, 2011;Thompson, 2022a). The methodology of establishing themes is presented further below.…”

“…These include nature, space, music and the arts, spiritual experiences, connectedness, and both one's own accomplishments and those of others (Graziosi & Yaden, 2019;Shiota et al, 2007;Sturm et al, 2020;. Moreover, direct experience on the part of the initiator is not required, as awe has been shown to be evoked through pictures, video, virtual and augmented reality, and narratives (Bai et al, 2017;Chen & Mongrain, 2020;Chirico et al, 2016;Chirico et al, 2017;Cuzzolino, 2021;Krenzer et al, 1018;Piff et al, 2015;Stellar et al, 2018;Rudd et al, 2012;Thompson, 2022a;Walker & Gilovich, 2020).…”

“…Awe has also been described as being both a mindfulness and resilience practice (Büssing, 2021;Clark, 2020;Keltner, 2017;Lutz et al, 2015;Sturm, et al, 2020;Tabibnia, 2020;Thompson, 2022a). Tabibnia (2020) found that awe is both a type of mindfulness practice and a component in supporting an individual's resilience and well-being, and recent works by Thompson and colleagues (Thompson, 2020a;Thompson & Drew 2020;Thompson et al, 2022;Thompson, 2022a;Thompson 2022b) have further explored this notion of awe as a mindfulness practice and its relationship with other resilience practices. As described later in this paper, The Awe Project attempts to put these previous studies, suggestions, and recommendations into practice.…”

“…Resilience refers to adapting in the midst of adverse and challenging situations and the ability to "bounce back" in a manner that is positive and productive (APA, 2020;Southwick & Charney, 2018;Thompson, 2022a). Additionally, resilience involves seeking support beyond one's own means when necessary (Thompson, 2022a;Thompson, 2020b).…”

“…The videos were selected based on previous studies of categories that have been shown to elicit awe. These are represented across the 10 videos and include accomplishments, art, music, nature, religious and spiritual moments, space, and social interactions (Allen, 2018;Anderson et al, 2018;Pilgrim et al, 2017;Shiota et al, 2007;Thompson, 2022a).…”