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The Science of Happiness · June 18, 2026 · 23m 25s

How To Find the Wow In Life

Dorien Davies, Halle Stanford
Show Notes

What transforms a child's natural wonder-seeking into lifelong curiosity and resilience? Dorien Davies and Halle Stanford, creators of the PBS Kids special Wowsabout!, discuss the science of awe and how small moments—a singing bird, a neighborhood walk, blooming flowers—help both children and adults feel more connected to themselves and the world. They explore how cultivating deliberate wonder fosters creativity, belonging, and psychological resilience across the lifespan.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Curious

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Awe Cultivates Curiosity, Resilience, and Belonging
Deliberate cultivation of awe—through noticing small moments like singing birds, blooming flowers, or neighborhood walks—strengthens curiosity, psychological resilience, creativity, and social belonging in children and adults.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
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Wonder Preserves Childhood Capacity Across the Lifespan
Children are natural wonder-seekers, but deliberate practice can help adults maintain and recover that capacity as they age, preventing the calcification of perception that comes with routine.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

Highlights

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Sensory Attention as Gateway to Wonder
Paying close attention to physical sensations—the warmth of sun, a cool breeze, bird sounds, textures—is the primary mechanism for accessing awe in ordinary moments.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
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Small, Accessible Moments Generate as Much Awe as Grand Experiences
A bird singing at dawn, a blooming jasmine vine, or a walk around the block can generate the same psychological benefits as dramatic natural vistas—if you notice them with intention.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

Editorial

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Intention-Setting Before Wonder-Seeking
The awe-walk practice begins by pausing your routine and *deciding* to look for something that inspires wonder—wonder doesn't happen by accident.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

References

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Wowsabout! — Halle Stanford, Dorien Davies (2026) — PBS Kids special on cultivating awe and wonder

Misc

✧The episode is structured around a practical awe-walk exercise with clear, actionable steps
✧Focuses on sensory attention as the entry point to wonder—tactile, auditory, visual
✧Emphasizes intention-setting before seeking awe, not passive consumption
✧The practice is available as a full structured exercise through UC Berkeley's Greater Good in Action (GGIA)
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