Sunrise Mood - the State of Awe and How We All Benefit From Being Surprised Out of Our Comfort Zone - Marilyn Laughlin, LCSW, RYT-500, Certified Nature Therapy Guide

Experiencing the emotion of awe - a large, epistemic emotion that includes curiosity, surprise, and wonder - denotes acquiring knowledge and an understanding of the world.  Awe implies a vast stimulus beyond our current understanding.  It requires flexing our mind’s existing frame of reference to make sense of a situation.  

Nature is the most common trigger of awe.  Small, daily doses of awe like witnessing a sunrise contribute to positive well-being and keep our brains optimistic about fresh starts and new opportunities.    The pink and orange colors of a sunrise signal the return of light and warmth. The sunrise triggers the release of serotonin, regulates mood, enhances focus, and promotes a sense of calm.  It regulates the sleep/wake cycle and reduces daytime fatigue.  Being present as the world comes to life, and being up with the light attunes us to the natural rhythm of all beings and allows clarity of thought.  

Access to daylight is associated with sleep, vitality, and mental health.  Because humans spend 90% of their time indoors, increasing our outdoor time and/or making our indoor environments brighter can reduce feelings of anxiety.²    

  When we experience awe, we experience:¹

1. Shifts in neurophysiology - including elevated vagal tone, reduced sympathetic arousal, increased oxytocin release, and reduced inflammation;

2. A diminished focus on the self - breaking out of the typical self-obsession and creating a new sense of being part of a whole;

3. Increased pro-social relationality - cooperation, sacrifice, and sharing; 

4. Greater social integration - less focus on the self, transforming one’s place in the world; and 

5. A heightened sense of meaning - energy is strong and positive, and the day seems full of possibilities

Uses in therapy

Awe is an emotion that can be used to break out of rigid thought patterns that lead to anxiety, depression, and self-obsession.  The use of awe as a therapeutic tool can enhance the efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  Feelings of awe imply a vast input of new information and transformation.  It can help change perspective and modify the way our minds organize and interpret information and experiences, leading to a sense of openness and connection.  

Generating awe is available for everyone, even without travel or immersive experience.  “Virtual awe” is a generated, realistic simulated scenario that portrays experiences of vastness.  Research indicates that it reduces activity in the default mode network (brain network), self-referential thought, and mind wandering.  It is also associated with feelings of connectedness that characterizes awe.  

References:

¹Rohan Nagare et al., Access to Daylight at Home Improves Circadian Alignment, Sleep, and Mental Health in Healthy Adults: A Crossover Study.  Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9980.

²Brenda K. Wiederhold, PhD, MBA, BCB, BCN Virtual Awe: Expanding the Horizons of Mental Health Treatment. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Volume 27, Number 7, 2024 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2024.0314.