Something You Should Know

What Awe and Wonder Do to Your Brain & Why Your Attention Span Is Shrinking

29 snips
Nov 27, 2025
Dacher Keltner, a psychology professor at UC Berkeley, dives into the transformative power of awe, discussing its ability to enhance well-being and social connections. He shares practical ways to cultivate awe in daily life and explains its remarkable benefits on mental and physical health. Meanwhile, Gloria Mark, an informatics professor at UC Irvine, reveals alarming trends of shrinking attention spans, outlining the disruptive factors and their impacts. She offers actionable tips to reclaim focus in a distraction-filled world.
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INSIGHT

Awe Is More Common Than You Think

  • Awe is not rare; people report feeling it two to three times weekly across cultures.
  • Everyday moments, not only grand vacations, commonly trigger awe.
ADVICE

Use Berkeley's Awe Practices

  • Visit ggia.berkeley.edu for free, research-backed awe practices you can try immediately.
  • While walking, notice small details like leaves or people to trigger everyday awe.
ANECDOTE

Recovering Awe After Personal Loss

  • Dacher described being 'unawable' during grief after his brother's death and intentionally sought awe to recover.
  • He rebuilt awe by listening to meaningful music, spending time in nature, and exploring spiritual practices.
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