Photo: Jelleke Vanooteghem | Unsplash
“One of the most alarming trends in the lives of children today is the disappearance of awe,” says author Dacher Keltner. "Every minute is scheduled. And the natural world is undergoing mass extinctions. It’s no wonder that stress, anxiety, depression, shame, eating disorders, and self-harm are on the rise for young people. They are awe-deprived." A new study finds that awe (the emotion triggered by mysterious experiences or ideas that we’ve never encountered before) makes children more giving toward refugees—and more calm. Children who watched an awe-inspiring video donated their rewards to refugee families more often compared to the children who watched other videos. Keltner suggests everyday ways to help our children find awe in nature, such as releasing ourselves from the pressure of hurrying up, tracing nature sounds to their source, and letting a sense of mystery lead us to see interconnectedness and patterns.
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