Shift Your Attention Outward with an Awe Walk

A couple of decades ago, psychologists started studying the science of “Awe,” defined as an overwhelming, self-transcendent sense of wonder and reverence that allows a person to feel part of something bigger. A sense of awe can be inspired by nature, music, art, political events and other activities that provide a person with feelings of joy, wellbeing and calm.

One way to experience this type of wonder and calm is to take an “Awe walk,” where you intentionally shift your attention outward rather than inward. The journal Emotion published a study in September 2020, which showed taking awe walks can reduce stress and boost mental health. During weekly 15-minute walks, half of the 60 and older group was instructed to try and experience the emotion of awe as they walked. The other half just walked their 15 minutes without any further instructions.

Participants took photographs of themselves during their walks and afterward filled out brief surveys describing the emotions they felt including an assessment of their sense of awe. The group was encouraged to feel awe detailed “significant boosts of positive prosocial emotions such as compassion and gratitude over the course of the study.”

Experts say it is easier to experience the emotion of an awe walk if you do it in a place with new sights and sounds such as taking a hike on a nature trail or looking at a panoramic view from a skyscraper. Remember to turn off your cell phone and approach the walk with fresh eyes. Recommendations include taking a few relaxing deep breaths before you start, be aware of your feet on the ground and listen to the sounds around you. While you walk, every once in a while, focus on something around you that really inspires you, i.e. the color of sky, a mountain in the distance, the sparkle of the water on a lake, etc.

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