How Cultivating Awe Enhances Fulfillment in Your Relationship

Source: arboursabroad/Shutterstock

Awe, an emotion evoked by encounters with something vast and transcendent that alters how we perceive the world, has been linked to various positive outcomes in individuals, such as increased well-being, life satisfaction, and prosocial behavior. Recently, researchers have begun to explore how awe experiences can also benefit romantic relationships. Findings suggest that incorporating awe-inspiring experiences into romantic relationships may be a promising way to enhance relationship quality and promote overall well-being. So, how exactly does awe affect romantic relationships?

The Impact of Awe on Romantic Relationships

Awe experiences can be powerful catalysts for enhancing connection, intimacy, and satisfaction in romantic relationships. Research has shown that sharing awe-inspiring moments can foster a stronger sense of bonding and closeness between partners. These moments can also promote gratitude and appreciation, which are essential to healthy relationships.

A study by Keltner and Haidt (2003) revealed that awe helps individuals feel more connected to something larger than themselves, such as a higher power, nature, or humanity. This sense of interconnectedness can lead to increased empathy and understanding between romantic partners, resulting in a stronger emotional bond. Additionally, awe experiences can boost self-expansion or the process by which individuals incorporate aspects of their partners into their self-concepts.

Self-expansion has been linked to increased relationship satisfaction and commitment and a decreased likelihood of infidelity. Moreover, awe can reduce the focus on one's self, encouraging a more collective and cooperative mindset. This shift in perspective can help couples navigate challenges more effectively and foster resilience in their relationships.

Shared Awe Experiences: A Pathway to Stronger Connections

While individual awe experiences can positively impact a person's well-being, sharing these moments with a romantic partner can amplify their effects on the relationship. Couples who participate in awe-inducing activities report higher relationship satisfaction and closeness than those who engaged in more mundane activities. The shared experience of awe can create a sense of "us-ness," strengthening the emotional bond between partners and enhancing feelings of intimacy and trust. Awe-inspiring experiences can also serve as powerful memories that couples can revisit and draw upon during difficult times. These shared memories promote gratitude and appreciation and help couples maintain a positive outlook on their relationship.

Recommendations for Experiencing Awe Together

To harness the transformative power of awe in romantic relationships, couples should consider incorporating awe-inspiring activities into their lives. Here are some recommendations for experiencing more wonder together:

1. Explore nature together. Natural environments, such as breathtaking landscapes, majestic forests, and awe-inspiring vistas, evoke awe. Couples can plan trips to national parks, hiking excursions, or walk in a beautiful, natural setting to experience awe together.
2. Engage in novel activities. Trying new activities and stepping out of one's comfort zone can elicit awe. Couples can participate in exciting adventures like skydiving, scuba diving, or attending cultural events that broaden their horizons and foster a sense of wonder.
3. Travel to new places. Visiting new and unfamiliar destinations can create awe-inspiring moments and increase self-expansion. Couples should consider traveling to places with rich cultural and historical significance or stunning natural beauty to experience awe together.
4. Attend art performances and exhibitions. Creative expressions, such as music, dance, and visual arts, can evoke awe by challenging our perceptions and inspiring new ways of thinking. Couples can attend live performances, art exhibitions, or immersive installations to experience awe through artistic expressions.
5. Engage in mindfulness and meditation. Mindfulness practices and meditation can evoke feelings of awe by promoting a sense of connection with the present moment and the larger universe. Couples can participate in guided meditation sessions or mindfulness workshops to experience wonder and strengthen their emotional bonds.
6. Volunteer for a greater cause. Participating in activities that serve a greater purpose, such as volunteering or supporting social causes, can evoke awe by connecting individuals to something larger than themselves. Couples can volunteer together at local charities, participate in community projects, or engage in activism to experience awe and foster a sense of interconnectedness.
7. Cultivate gratitude and appreciation. Reflecting on the positive aspects of life and expressing gratitude can help couples focus on awe-inspiring facets of their relationship. Couples can develop a gratitude practice by sharing what they are thankful for each day, writing appreciation letters to each other, or creating a gratitude jar filled with positive memories and experiences.

Lasting and Pervasive Effects of Awe

"Create experiences that leave you in awe, for these will be the highlights of your life.”— Ryan Blair.

Awe has the potential to significantly enhance romantic relationships by promoting bonding, intimacy, gratitude, and self-expansion. By actively seeking out and sharing awe-inspiring experiences, couples can strengthen their emotional connections and cultivate a more profound sense of satisfaction and fulfillment in their relationships. By integrating awe into their lives, couples can foster resilience, navigate challenges more effectively, and create a strong foundation for a lasting partnership.

The positive effects of awe experiences can extend beyond the immediate moment and have a lasting impact on individuals and their relationships. Individuals who regularly experience awe report lower stress levels, increased well-being, and more positive social interactions. Thus, integrating awe-inspiring experiences into one's life and relationship may have a cumulative effect, leading to more meaningful and fulfilling experiences over time.