Make Time for Awe

The Atlantic:

Jason Silva is a self-described epiphany junkie. He recently enthused to me about how some movies, for example, manage to capture attention and create a complete, immersive transformation for the viewer.

In his “Shots of Awe” YouTube series, Silva wants to interrupt your mundane existence with “philosophical espresso shots” designed to inspire you to live to the fullest.

It’s easy to get swept away by Silva’s vision of the future: a revolutionary convergence of biotechnology, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. He considers awe to be a pivotal ingredient in making ideas resonate. In his three-minute clips, he hardly takes a breath as he spouts rousing optimism over digitally animated film.

He may be onto something. A new study published in the journal Psychological Science shows there are residual health benefits to having your mind blown.

“People increasingly report feeling time-starved, which exacts a toll on health and well-being,” states the study.

Read the whole story: The Atlantic