Skip the flowers and dinner out. If you want to feel closer to your partner, the latest science suggests seeking out awe together.
EXPERT OPINION BY JESSICA STILLMAN, CONTRIBUTOR, INC.COM @ENTRYLEVELREBEL
Say things have started to feel a little stale and you’re looking to feel a little more connected to your romantic partner again. What should you do?
Traditionalists might stop by the florist or book a table at their favorite restaurants. Psychology nerds could try adrenaline dating — research has shown scary experiences from horror movies to skydiving can be bonding. The adventurous might attempt to spice things up in the bedroom.
There’s nothing wrong with these approaches
There’s nothing wrong with these approaches. But new research suggests the solution might be simpler and more accessible: do something awe-inspiring together.
A quick refresher on the science of awe
As a quick refresher, awe is that feeling of wonder we get when we’re in front of something much bigger and more spectacular than ourselves. When your mouth hangs open at the beauty and grandeur of the Milky Way or the work of a Renaissance master, that’s awe.
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It’s certainly a nice feeling to have but in the midst of the whirlwind of everyday life many of us prioritize it much. We have emails to answer and chores to check off the to-do list, after all. Busy modern lives might not be geared towards maximizing awe. But science suggests maybe they should be (at least a little more).
Study after study has found profound psychological benefits
Study after study has found profound psychological benefits to experiencing more awe. The sense of smallness and wonder tends to nudge people away from everyday worries and towards a sense of greater purpose and togetherness. This opens our horizons and helps us envision new possibilities for our lives. The result is lower stress and anxiety and greater generosity and mental health.
All of which sounds like a lovely reason to go stargazing or take a moment to really look at a baby. (This whole human wasn’t there before and now they are! I still can’t quite get over it.) But to return to our original theme, what does that have to do with you sometimes, just sometimes, feeling a little bored with your lovely better half?
Source: www.inc.com
