Recent Posts

Your Brain on Awe and Moments of Wonder

When we lose ourselves in nature, art, or meditation, the brain is reshaped, changing how we sense, remember, and feel.

When we lose ourselves in nature, art, or meditation, the brain is reshaped, changing how we sense, remember, and feel.

How Interacting With Mandalas Can Heal Us

An ancient cross-cultural symbol is there for us when we need it most—revealing not only how we are feeling at present but also how to make meaning and heal going forward.

An ancient cross-cultural symbol is there for us when we need it most—revealing not only how we are feeling at present but also how to make meaning and heal going forward.

7 Ways People Experience Spirituality

Spirituality isn't one-size-fits-all. There are many ways people find spiritual connection, both within and beyond religion.

Spirituality isn't one-size-fits-all. There are many ways people find spiritual connection, both within and beyond religion.

Creativity Is Not a Luxury

Creativity helps build a fulfilling and meaningful life. Staying committed to a creative practice can be challenging. Practical tools can help us commit and connect to creativity.

Creativity helps build a fulfilling and meaningful life. Staying committed to a creative practice can be challenging. Practical tools can help us commit and connect to creativity.

Reclaiming Our Legacy of Harmony in Times of Great Change

Naturalist Brooke Williams explores how we can re-enchant our lives and orient ourselves toward harmony in his new book "Encountering Dragonfly."

Naturalist Brooke Williams explores how we can re-enchant our lives and orient ourselves toward harmony in his new book "Encountering Dragonfly."

Embracing the Enchantment of Nature

In his new book, "Encountering Dragonfly," naturalist Brooke Williams explores how a dream changed his life and what this may mean for all of us in this time of great change.

In his new book, "Encountering Dragonfly," naturalist Brooke Williams explores how a dream changed his life and what this may mean for all of us in this time of great change.

Emotionally Healthy Ultra-Endurance Endeavors

Ultra-endurance can be both a path to resilience and a form of avoidance. Discover strategies for maintaining a healthy balance.

Ultra-endurance can be both a path to resilience and a form of avoidance. Discover strategies for maintaining a healthy balance.

Stop Measuring and Start Living!

Our compulsion to measure and rank keeps us from being present for ourselves and others.—and, often, from doing our best.

Our compulsion to measure and rank keeps us from being present for ourselves and others.—and, often, from doing our best.

Think Big, Feel Small, Live Well

Feeling small in the presence of something really, really big has some surprising wellness benefits.

Feeling small in the presence of something really, really big has some surprising wellness benefits.

The Trees Are Speaking, on Earth Day and Every Day

In her new book, "The Trees Are Speaking," Lynda Mapes shares what forests are telling us about how to partner with them to build harmony, health, and reciprocity.

In her new book, "The Trees Are Speaking," Lynda Mapes shares what forests are telling us about how to partner with them to build harmony, health, and reciprocity.

How to Find Love in Your Life

Personal Perspective: If we turn to the great love stories from literature, we can learn that love comes from both our memories and our imagination.

Personal Perspective: If we turn to the great love stories from literature, we can learn that love comes from both our memories and our imagination.

The Awe Walk: An Antidote to Despair

A simple 15-minute awe walk can transform your emotional well-being and help you find peace in the face of despair.

A simple 15-minute awe walk can transform your emotional well-being and help you find peace in the face of despair.

Interruptions and Surprises Can Be Good for Us

In cynical and testy times, unexpected moments of surprise, wonder, and joy build resilience—as long as we stay open enough to notice.

In cynical and testy times, unexpected moments of surprise, wonder, and joy build resilience—as long as we stay open enough to notice.

An Artist’s Immersion Into Neuroaesthetics

What happens when an artist steps into the world of empirical science? A residency at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics revealed unexpected parallels between art and science.

What happens when an artist steps into the world of empirical science? A residency at the Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics revealed unexpected parallels between art and science.

The Convergence of Well-Being, Science, and Spirituality

While some people may call it a search for meaning, awe, or wholeness, spirituality is a universal aspect of human experience.

While some people may call it a search for meaning, awe, or wholeness, spirituality is a universal aspect of human experience.

"Dark Skies": Nurturing a Sense of Wonder Beyond Ourselves

The new book "Dark Skies" explores our place in a mysterious world and our connection to something bigger than ourselves: darkness, transformation, and awe.

The new book "Dark Skies" explores our place in a mysterious world and our connection to something bigger than ourselves: darkness, transformation, and awe.

How Awe Helps Us Heal in Times of Crisis

Awe helps humans feel more connected to the world and other people—and in the aftermath of a natural disaster, it can bring out the best in all of us.

Awe helps humans feel more connected to the world and other people—and in the aftermath of a natural disaster, it can bring out the best in all of us.

Hearing Winter: Listening to Nature With Care Lessens Fear

Personal Perspective: In uncertain times, the seasons' reliable sounds offer comfort. Could you identify a Northeast winter by sound?

Personal Perspective: In uncertain times, the seasons' reliable sounds offer comfort. Could you identify a Northeast winter by sound?

What Do We Get Out of Art?

Art is part of what makes us human; but what makes us understand it and feel it?

Art is part of what makes us human; but what makes us understand it and feel it?

Slow Simmer vs. Quick Boil Awe

Consider the fruits of cultivating awe over a lifetime.

Consider the fruits of cultivating awe over a lifetime.

A Mockingbird’s Gift: Love, Loss, and an Eternal Connection

Personal Perspective: Finding solace and strength in a sign from nature.

Personal Perspective: Finding solace and strength in a sign from nature.

The Wild Horse Effect and The Transformative Power of Nature

Horse expert Chad Hanson combines stunning imagery with insights from the science of awe and wonder to shed light on the spiritual and mind-body benefits of spending time outside.

Horse expert Chad Hanson combines stunning imagery with insights from the science of awe and wonder to shed light on the spiritual and mind-body benefits of spending time outside.

Allow Yourself to Cultivate Awe

Given the value of self-compassion, what might help people open the door to something that could powerfully help them, especially amid sudden, troubling circumstances?

Given the value of self-compassion, what might help people open the door to something that could powerfully help them, especially amid sudden, troubling circumstances?

I'm Jealous of My Autistic Son

Personal Perspective: I've come to look at my son, Nat, not just with the pride of a mother, but with admiration.

Personal Perspective: I've come to look at my son, Nat, not just with the pride of a mother, but with admiration.

Unlock Creative Brilliance: The Power of the Unknown

Personal Perspective: You’ve mastered your craft—but could staying in your lane be holding you back? Mastery is valuable, but stepping into the unfamiliar is the key.

Personal Perspective: You’ve mastered your craft—but could staying in your lane be holding you back? Mastery is valuable, but stepping into the unfamiliar is the key.

A Neurodiversity Affirmative Approach for Professionals

Neurodivergent brains and people are unique and awesome. It is recommended to take a neurodiversity affirmative approach and be awed, humble, and respectful toward them.

Neurodivergent brains and people are unique and awesome. It is recommended to take a neurodiversity affirmative approach and be awed, humble, and respectful toward them.

Discovering Our True Nature

We all deal with inner demons arising from negative thinking, suppressed emotions, and past traumas. We must cut through their illusions to uncover our true nature.

We all deal with inner demons arising from negative thinking, suppressed emotions, and past traumas. We must cut through their illusions to uncover our true nature.

Making the Stone Stony

Art and aesthetics inform psychotherapy just as much as science—and these aesthetic processes can help push patients toward cognitive flexibility.

Art and aesthetics inform psychotherapy just as much as science—and these aesthetic processes can help push patients toward cognitive flexibility.

Grounding Yourself Through a Moment of Wonder

In a distracting, cynical world of ever-breaking news, we can lose our focus and attention to what really matters. But a few minutes gazing at the sky can switch us back on track.

In a distracting, cynical world of ever-breaking news, we can lose our focus and attention to what really matters. But a few minutes gazing at the sky can switch us back on track.

H.G. Wells, Maslow, and the Peak-Experience

H.G. Wells may have been an important source for Maslow's influential concept of peak-experiences.

H.G. Wells may have been an important source for Maslow's influential concept of peak-experiences.