4 Ways I’m Tapping into the Healing Power of Awe This Holiday Season
New family caregivers may struggle with the sudden changes that arise when they step into caring for another human being, with the challenges and rewards taking on a particular flavor during the holidays. Depending on the circumstances, some experience mostly positive benefits, while others can descend into feeling overwhelmed – emotions intensify, old family wounds surface, and cherished familiar traditions might give way to new routines. It can be bittersweet.
Integrating awe into your daily life is a positive, transformative practice that can help you to recalibrate how you approach caregiving. I leaned into the healing power of awe during a particularly intense period of caring for both parents several years ago and discovered that it helped me to become more resilient. Let’s explore awe and unpack 4 easy ways to infuse more of it into your daily life as a family caregiver.
Understanding Awe in the Caregiving Context
Awe is not merely a fleeting emotion; it is a continuous state of being that can bring comfort and inspiration to caregivers. In this context, awe creates a profound sense of wonder, gratitude, and reverence in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of the caregiving journey.
The Healing Power of Awe
Research confirms that awe is a potent positive emotion capable of influencing mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. One study on older individuals demonstrated that those who incorporated awe into their daily walks experienced fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. For family caregivers facing complex emotions during the holidays, deliberately infusing awe into daily activities can provide a welcome respite.
Awe's Role in Reducing Holiday Stress for Caregivers
The holiday season can magnify the emotional intensity that family caregivers experience, with additional expectations coming into play. Awe, with its ability to shift attention outward and to foster gratitude, becomes a crucial ally during this time of year. Researchers call this the small self, and they’re discovering that awe promotes compassion and generosity among other beneficial social qualities. Actively seeking moments of awe allows family caregivers to momentarily step away from the weight of their duties, creating space for rejuvenation and perspective.
Professor and awe researcher Dacher Keltner confirms that awe transforms the mind, taps into the sense of the world’s vastness, and promotes humility. In this way, awe encourages us to move from negative self-talk to a mindset of appreciation and optimism — an outlook essential for maintaining mental and emotional well-being. For caregivers, the experience of awe can remind us to receive the beauty and wonder present in the caregiving journey.
“Awe creates a profound sense of wonder, gratitude, and reverence in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of the caregiving journey. ”
Infuse Your Caregiving with Awe
Incorporating awe into your caregiving doesn't necessitate grand gestures or expensive trips. Curiosity is my fastest entry point to finding awe, with small daily moments having a profound and positive cumulative effect. Below are 4 simple practices I’m using to cultivate awe as a caregiver.
Nature often evokes awe and can be a sanctuary for caregivers and care recipients during the holidays. Below are some examples of how you might experience nature. I find it helpful to pay attention to details in the environment and notice how my body responds.
A walk in a decorated park
A drive along a beautiful stretch of road
The sights of festive lights
A moving holiday song
Even just quietly observing a majestic landscape or work of art can surface awe and provide a serene backdrop for caregivers to find comfort.
2. Mindful caregiving is a deliberate, present-focused approach to caregiving that emphasizes awareness, compassion, and connection. This practice encourages caregivers to fully engage with the caregiving experience, fostering a sense of calm and promoting the well-being of both the caregiver and the recipient.
Sensory Awareness: Engage the senses during caregiving tasks. Noticing the sights, textures, scents, and sounds associated with daily activities can create a deeper human connection and promote a sense of awe.
Mindful Breathing: Incorporate intentional breathing exercises to manage stress. Take moments to focus on your breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly to promote relaxation. I’m a big fan of box breathing.
Compassionate Presence: Be fully present in the moment with your loved one, offering genuine support and understanding without judgment. Look your care recipient in the eyes when speaking with them. In the caregiving relationship, this fosters a deeper emotional connection by shifting your attention outward.
3. Engaging in active listening with loved ones during festive gatherings can also become a source of awe as family caregivers discover the depth and resilience within those they care for. Try tuning into the words and emotions your care recipient shares during these conversations. The best questions are open-ended.
What is your most cherished holiday memory and why?
What are the most important lessons you’ve learned in life?
How has your life been different than what you imagined it would be?
4. Keep a gratitude journal. Reflecting on all that you are grateful for can have a lasting effect on your mental health and your sense of awe and abundance.
Review the positive aspects of caregiving.
Can you be thankful for a good night’s rest?
How is your morning coffee or tea nourishing?
I love to note these reflections in a journal or say them out loud.
Awe as a Daily Companion during the Holidays
As you navigate the holidays, embracing awe as a near-continuous state of being is a gift you give to yourself that will inevitably spill over into how you treat others. Intentionally cultivating awe transforms it into a practical and accessible state of awareness that brings joy, wonder, and inspiration and creates space for healing and resilience.
My wish for you is time to wander and wonder with awe during this holiday season and beyond.
All of us at New Caregiver love awe walks. The good news is that you can cultivate these states of being for free, in your own home, or on the go. This guided virtual awe walk and this reflection on creative encounters in awe walking are great resources to get you started. It just takes one intentional moment.
How do you find awe? Feel free to comment below or send us a note. We read every reply and would love to share your ideas with our community!