The Power of Awe - Dr Michael Amster, Jake Eagle

As lifelong meditators and mindfulness teachers, we confess we were almost embarrassed when we stumbled onto a 5-15 second shortcut to transcendence. This idea ran counter to everything we knew about meditation before we began our research. But, yes, it is possible. It only requires accessing the powerful emotion of awe in ordinary, everyday life. The changes in our lives have been profound, and after seeing the results repeated again and again in our thousands of patients, clients, and study participants, we've proven that our shortcut, coined the A.W.E. Method, works. -from the Preface Think about the last time you were truly in awe - perhaps on a walk or whilst watching a musician perform live - maybe you felt goosebumps or you lost your sense of time? Unbeknownst to you, some pretty incredible things were happening inside your body. Your fight-flight-freeze response became less active and activity decreased in your brain's default mode network, which is associated with both chronic pain and anxiety. Your interleukin-6 levels decreased, which can reduce chronic inflammation and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression.Being in awe can be beneficial to both your mind and body and now the AWE method provides a shortcut to all these benefits and is accessible to anyone, anywhere. ATTENTION (give your full focus to something), WAIT (take a deep breath and appreciate that thing), EXHALE and EXPAND (as you exhale slowly, allow your feelings to expand and grow). 5-15 seconds, two or three times a day - that's all!In this book you'll learn:- about the surprising and little known science of awe- how we unwittingly cut ourselves off from feeling awe- how AWE can enhance traditional mental health therapies- strategies for using AWE to improve relationships, alleviate existential anxiety and manage chronic pain- the different types of awe we can experience (sensorial, conceptual, and interconnected)- how to recognize and get good at experiencing each type of aweLearn how to microdose mindfulness through the power of AWE now.