Clarity, Healing & Purpose is Less Than a Minute Away, the Power of Awe with Jake Eagle (213)
Aug 28, 2023
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Jake Eagle, a researcher of mindfulness, discusses the power of awe in rewiring our brains and building security within. He explains how awe can be found in everyday life and explores strategies like the 'A Method' to incorporate mindfulness. The episode covers the transformative effects of awe on the body, reducing inflammation, and fostering deeper connections.
Awe is a powerful tool that can be accessed in everyday life through micro-dosing mindfulness, leading to rewiring of the brain and building security within.
Awe activates the vagus nerve, shifting the body into a state of relaxation and heightened connection, reducing inflammation and improving overall well-being.
Practicing awe before difficult conversations can create a more resourceful and connected state, enhancing relationships and improving communication.
Deep dives
The Power of Awe: Overcoming Burnout, Anxiety, and Chronic Pain
The podcast episode discusses the power of awe and its transformative effects on individuals. Awe is described as a lightning bolt that clears our perception and allows us to see what is truly important in life. The awe experience can be accessed through micro-dosing mindfulness, which involves practicing mindfulness for brief, 15 to 20-second intervals throughout the day. This practice has been found to have significant cumulative effects, easing symptoms of burnout, anxiety, and chronic pain. Awe is also shown to activate the vagus nerve, shifting our physiological state from being activated to a state of relaxation and heightened connection. The podcast emphasizes that awe is accessible to everyone, even in moments of strife, and it has positive impacts on reducing inflammation in the body.
The Three Steps of the Awe Method
The podcast introduces the A.W.E method as a way to access and apply awe in daily life. The A stands for attention, where individuals focus their undivided attention on something they appreciate or find amazing. The W is about waiting, staying with the source of awe, and intensifying attention for a few seconds. The E is exhaling and expanding, with a longer than usual exhalation that activates the vagus nerve and amplifies positive sensations in the body. These three steps can be practiced within a breath cycle or two and can have profound effects on shifting perspective, accessing a sense of connection, and altering one's state of consciousness.
Awe as a Source of Empowerment and Safety
The podcast highlights how practicing awe empowers individuals and enhances their sense of safety. Awe allows individuals to shift from defense physiology to a more relaxed and connected state, activating the vagus nerve and promoting a sense of safety and calmness. Awe also reduces inflammation in the body, which has implications for chronic disease and emotional well-being. By engaging in moments of awe, individuals can reframe their experiences, feel more empowered, and reconnect with what is meaningful in their lives. Awe also facilitates a shift in consciousness, enabling individuals to go beyond self-attachment and experience a profound sense of connection with the world.
Using Awe in Challenging Conversations
The podcast highlights the value of practicing awe before engaging in difficult conversations. By intentionally accessing awe, individuals can shift their physiology, signal safety to themselves and others, and create a space for more open and effective communication. Accessing awe can enhance relationships, foster co-regulation, and increase coherence. Engaging in awe just before challenging conversations can change the tone of voices and the quality of connection, creating a more resourceful and connected state for all parties involved. The podcast emphasizes that awe is accessible and can be practiced in various aspects of life, including both personal and professional relationships.
The Power of Awe in Times of Strife
The podcast discusses the significance of awe in times of strife, acknowledging that awe can still be accessed even in challenging situations. Awe helps individuals move beyond defense mechanisms and reconnect with the love and preciousness that persist despite difficulties. In moments of loss or despair, awe enables individuals to shift their perspective, reempower themselves, and find a sense of connection with the world. By accessing awe, individuals can reframe their experiences of distress and move towards healing and meaning-making. The podcast encourages individuals to embrace awe, as it has the potential to create significant positive shifts in our physiology, emotions, and worldview.
The idea of adding 30 minutes of extra meditation to our already busy schedules can feel overwhelming - but Jake Eagle has dedicated years to his research and found the mindfulness loophole. Awe is an incredibly powerful tool that can over time help us rewire our brains and build security within. Eagle is here to prove that awe is not only meant to be found in grand moments like standing at the top of a mountain or hearing your favorite musician live - but in the tiny fragments of our everyday life. Awe is accessible to us each day, and in this episode, Dr. Ann Kelley and Jake Eagle explore strategies like the "A Method" to incorporate mindfulness into our daily routines. These methods can help to ease the tension of the autopilot mode in our brains, reduce inflammation throughout the body, and equip us with the tools to have deeper, more meaningful connections. Find more at www.therapistuncensored.com/213 and join our Neuronerd community at www.therapistuncensored.com/join.
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