Melanie Rudd
Melanie Rudd is a consumer psychologist and PhD candidate at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in Stanford, California, and lead author of an article on awe and time perception published in Psychological Science.
Think back to a moment when you felt utterly awestruck by the splendor of a sunset, the majesty of a symphony or the miracle of a newborn baby. Remember how it seemed as though time stood still while your mind and soul expanded to absorb the immensity of the experience?
Well, when you tap into that type of feeling, you can find relief from a scourge of modern existence—the sense of being constantly starved for time. And in so doing, you may boost your satisfaction with life and even improve your health!
This fascinating finding comes from a new study that examined the power of awe, the emotion that arises when we encounter something so strikingly vast that it alters our understanding of the world. (Yes, scientists study awe—you gotta love it!) The study included three experiments with three different sets of participants…
Experiment #1. Volunteers were randomly assigned to watch a one-minute video designed to elicit either awe or happiness. (Happiness was chosen as the basis of comparison because it also is a positive emotion but does not share awe’s mind-altering immensity.) The awe-inspiring video showed waterfalls, whales and astronauts in space…the happiness-inspiring video showed a parade of joyful people. When surveyed afterward: Compared with participants who felt happy, those who felt awed were more likely to agree with statements such as, “I have lots of time in which I can get things done”—showing that they perceived time as more plentiful.
Experiment #2. One group of participants wrote about an occasion when they experienced awe…a second group wrote about an occasion when they felt happy. Then they answered questionnaires to determine their levels of impatience and their willingness to donate time to help other people. Results: Members of the awe group were significantly less impatient and more willing to spend time helping others—indicating that they felt as though they had time to spare.
Experiment #3. Volunteers read a story about climbing the Eiffel Tower and admiring Paris from on high (to inspire awe)…or they read about climbing an unnamed tower and seeing a plain landscape (a neutral experience). Afterward, they made hypothetical choices between material goods or enjoyable experiences—for instance, a wristwatch versus tickets to a Broadway show—and answered questions about how satisfied they felt with life at that moment. Findings: The awe group favored experiences (which take time but generally deliver more long-lasting satisfaction than material goods)…and reported greater life satisfaction overall.
What it all means: Researchers noted that people who feel rushed tend to eat less healthfully…often forgo leisure activities and community service…and are at increased risk for high blood pressure, headaches, stomach pain, poor sleep and depression. Antidote for the time famine: By actively pursuing and/or consciously recalling awe-inspiring experiences, we can seemingly slow the rush of time and find more joy and meaning in our lives. So why not take a few moments to read an epic poem or admire a star-spangled sky…and let yourself be filled with wonder.
