The BIG Takeaway™ newsletter By Rich Trombetta Feb. 20, 2023
Using examples from TV, movies and sports to launch a journey toward peace and happiness at work, at home...in life. Grab the remote and change your life.™
This week’s trivia question: What is the most number of points Michael Jordan ever scored in an NBA game? Bonus: Versus which team?
Experiencing awe to be happier is a slam dunk The power of awe is, well, awe-inspiring
The context Mac McClung, a G-League player on a two-way deal with the Philadelphia 76ers won the NBA's slam dunk contest on Saturday evening; the G-League is the official minor league of the NBA.
McClung has been known for his dunks since high school and has almost one million Instagram followers.
Many people questioned the NBA inviting him to the contest; many (myself included) had no idea who he was.
The negativity was quickly replaced by delirium as the contest moved on; reaction to McClung's performance can be summed up in one word - awe.
Random side note: McClung sounds a bit like McLovin from "Superbad." Did you know you can buy a McLovin license on Amazon?
Go deeper Current and former NBA players, announcers and fans were in awe of McClung's dunks.
With each dunk there was a steady dose of "ooohhhh!," "wow," and "oh my goodness!"
It was a sea of people with eyes popping, jaws gaping and hands on heads with a look of "no way!"
People were in awe.
Consider this "Awe is shown to make us happier and contribute to greater life satisfaction, to make us care more about other people and to increase our humility." (source)
The impact of awe on one's health and happiness appears to be significant.
Below are a few of the benefits researchers have identified:
People who experience awe tend to feel a cascade of other positive emotions such as joy and gratitude, which are linked to greater health and well-being.
People have higher well-being on days when they have positive experiences of awe, compared to days with no awe.
Awe encourages curiosity and creativity.
Awe is linked to better physical health: Awe-prone people show lower levels of a biomarker (IL-6) that reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, and autoimmune disease.
Time seems to expand as we feel awe and immerse ourselves in the present moment, detached from our normal, mundane concerns.
Connect the dots McClung's performance is awe inspiring. A person can receive tremendous benefits from watching the dunks whether they are a basketball fan or not.
And there's more good news. Jennifer Stellar, a psychology professor at the University of Toronto, notes that awe doesn't need to come from big events like watching impressive displays of athleticism, visiting the Grand Canyon or walking the Great Wall of China.
We can experience awe by witnessing an act of kindness, stopping to gaze a nature, or even putting our phones down to simply take in our surroundings.
The best news? It's FREE.
My BIG Takeaway
If I want to be happier and healthier I need to get better at doing things like putting down my phone and simply enjoying, appreciating and witnessing the awe-inspiring sensations that are right around me.
Parting thoughts Enjoy the video below. Notice the reaction of the players, fans and announcers. Don't have time? Hmmm.
Quote for the week "He who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead; his eyes are closed." - Albert Einstein
This week's trivia answer
What is the most number of points Michael Jordan ever scored in an NBA game? Bonus: Versus which team?
On March 28, 1990 Jordan scored 69 points versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Why does Cleveland always seem to be on the wrong side of a trivia question?
Also, want to see yourself dunk like MJ? Soon you will. Check this out from the NBA. AWESOME.
That's all for now Thanks for reading and please remember:
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If you have any ideas or feedbackContact me with your thoughts.
Rich Trombetta @trombettarich
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