Most of us associate awe(敬畏) with something rare and beautiful: nature, music or a spiritual experience. But people can waken awe too, and not just public heroes. Research shows that we can be awed by our nearest and dearest—the people sitting next to us on the couch, chatting on the other end of the phone, looking back at us over Zoom
Often, interpersonal awe is a response to life's big, sweeping changes, such as witnessing a baby's first steps John Bargh said he was "truly awestruck" by his 5-year-old daughter while dining in a McDonald's. When she heard another child crying, she grabbed the toy from her Happy Meal, walked over to the boy and handed it to him.
Though we can't make someone else behave in a way that's awesome, we can prepare ourselves to notice it when they do and boost the emotion's positive effects.
Question your assumptions. Do you believe your partner is insensitive or your sibling(兄弟姐妹) is selfish? There may be a little truth to that, but it's never the whole tale. To increase your chances of feeling awed by the other person, ask yourself what's going on in his or her life that you don't know about.
Name awe when you see it. Speaking out "Wow, that was awesome!" is a simple way to help you identify and remember a special experience. Taste it in the moment and then tell others about it This will reinforce your positive emotions Studies show that you will feel awe again simply by remembering an awe experience.
This makes the other person feel good and can give your relationship a boost. And it will help you too: Studies show that people who practice gratitude have significantly higher levels of happiness and psychological well being.
A. Thank the person who awed you. B. And recall it or write about it later. C. Psychologists call this interpersonal awe. D. It's easy to forget that it can be awesome too. E. But interpersonal awe does happen in smaller moments. F. Here's why you should recognize those moments of interpersonal awe. G. The story you tell yourself gets in the way of catching people at their best. |
