The Power of Awe

Recommendation

Photo from IMDB

It is great to be back writing for my blog page! I have been tremendously busy with the business and I haven’t had a second to share some of my recent discoveries.

I was guided to the Disney+ streaming channel last weekend and I found a documentary on National Geographic called Operation Arctic Cure. It was released this year, 2024, and kept me captivated for the 45 minute duration. 

The premise of the documentary is revealing how the experience of “awe” can change us mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. 

Operation Arctic Cure began as a groundbreaking scientific experiment to explore whether nature immersion in the Arctic could help U.S. combat veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars find relief from trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The project sought to answer a powerful question: could the experience of 'awe' found in nature aid in the healing process for those carrying the invisible wounds of war?

The Operation Begins

The expedition was led by former news anchor and war correspondent Bob Woodruff, who himself reported in Iraq in 2006 and was almost killed by a roadside bomb or improvised explosive device (IED).The left side of his skull was shattered and it was miraculous he even survived the ordeal. Since then, he has had a personal interest in helping to support those with PTSD from combat.

Bob Woodruff found studies out of Berkeley, California that were being done at the Happiness Lab by Dr. Dacher Keltner. One of the studies in 2016, took war veterans white water rafting and the results showed that at least two weeks after the trips, veterans were reporting at least 21% less PTSD symptoms. Dr. Craig Anderson who worked on this study as a graduate student said:

“Nature takes us out of the everyday that we are used to. It turns out that the daily hassles and the daily grind that we experience, those things also seem smaller [when in nature].” 

Now in 2024, Dr. Craig Anderson, alongside Bob Woodruff, is leading a small group of veterans with severe PTSD on a journey to the Arctic. Their mission: to collect data on whether the pristine, ancient landscape can evoke a profound sense of awe that helps alleviate trauma and stress.

Over a five-day expedition from Baffin Island, Canada, near the Arctic Circle, to Mount Thor—the world's tallest vertical cliff—these veterans experience awe one by one, returning home transformed for the better.

The Inner Healing

I was touched by the willingness of the combat veterans to try something new to help themselves. Each one revealed their trauma stories and showed their vulnerability with exceptional courage. It was inspiring to see that each of these decorated and dedicated veterans gained something in return for their own healing.

The feeling of awe while out in the Arctic wilderness helped to heal the invisible wounds of war.

I found this documentary to be inspirational and a profound shift in how mental health and wellness is approached. 

It’s not hard to see how the benefits of feeling awe while out in nature would apply to anyone looking to reset their perspective about life.

For more details about the method of the study please watch the documentary now streaming on Disney+.