Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have these experiences — near-death experiences, or experiences of awe, or spiritual experiences generally — often come away feeling that they have encountered something that is more real than ordinary reality. And this sense of 'hyper-reality' is one of the most commonly reported features of these experiences.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have more of these experiences feel a greater sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. They feel more connected to other people, even strangers. They're less afraid of death. They're more likely to change their behavior in positive ways. And they report feeling a sense of awe or wonder at the world around them.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have more of these experiences tend to be happier and healthier. They feel a stronger sense of connection to others. They find it easier to cope with adversity. And yet our culture often treats these experiences as suspect — as signs of irrationality or self-deception.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have a lot of awe in their lives tend to have lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, which are markers of stress and immune activation. Awe seems to quiet the self — that internal narrative we have about ourselves, our problems, our concerns — and when the self gets quieter, people tend to feel more connected to others and to the world around them.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have frequent spiritual experiences — who regularly feel a sense of awe, or feel that they are in the presence of something greater than themselves — tend to be happier, more generous, and more connected to other people. They are also less afraid of death.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have a lot of awe in their lives tend to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. And when you feel that you're part of something larger than yourself, the petty concerns, the minor humiliations, the day to day frustrations — they recede into the background.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who report a lot of awe in their lives also tend to score high on measures of well-being. They report feeling more connected to others, more curious, and less focused on their own day-to-day concerns. In a sense, awe seems to shrink the self — and in doing so, it might make room for something larger.

Hidden Brain

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

People who have a lot of awe in their lives tend to feel that they are part of something larger than themselves. And when you feel like you're part of something larger than yourself, your own personal problems and worries seem smaller and more manageable.