Restoring Wonder: What Awe Does to the Brain and Soul

Restoring Wonder: What Awe Does to the Brain and Soul

Subscribe for free reflection journals and deeper resources: https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] Listen & subscribe to Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace: https://pod.link/1864576270 [https://pod.link/1864576270] Restoring Wonder: What Awe Does to the Brain and Soul When was the last time something truly stopped you in your tracks? A breathtaking mountain vista. A brilliant sunset. A piece of music that gave you chills. A story of courage. The birth of a child. Standing beneath a sky full of stars. Those moments don't just feel beautiful—they change us. In this episode of Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace, Dr. Malorie explores the fascinating psychology and neuroscience of awe and wonder, and why these experiences are far more than pleasant emotions. Research shows that awe quiets rumination, expands perspective, increases generosity, reduces stress, and helps us feel connected to something much larger than ourselves. Drawing from personal experiences living in Europe, hiking through the Alps, walking among the ruins of Athens and Rome, and more recent travels through Utah's breathtaking national parks, Dr. Malorie reflects on an important realization: wonder is often available—but our attention is somewhere else. This episode explores how our distracted, hurried lives can rob us of the very experiences that restore our minds and souls—and how learning to "look up" may be one of the simplest practices for cultivating greater peace, perspective, and connection with God. In This Episode * Why awe is considered a "self-transcendent emotion" * What neuroscience reveals about the brain during experiences of wonder * How awe reduces rumination and expands perspective * The "small self" effect and why it actually benefits mental health * Why modern life makes wonder increasingly difficult * Jesus' invitation to "look at the birds" and "consider the lilies" * Practical ways to cultivate awe in everyday life * A guided meditation to help you slow down, notice, and reconnect with wonder Psychology & Neuroscience Researchers have discovered that experiences of awe produce remarkable changes in the brain. Awe has been associated with: * Reduced self-focused thinking and rumination * Increased feelings of connection with others * Greater generosity and compassion * Lower stress * Improved well-being * An expanded sense of time and perspective One of the most fascinating findings is the "small self" effect. During moments of awe, people often report feeling smaller—not insignificant, but appropriately placed within something much larger than themselves. Rather than diminishing us, this shift often brings relief, humility, and greater emotional freedom. Psychology Meets Grace Throughout His ministry, Jesus repeatedly invited people to pay attention. "Look at the birds." "Consider the lilies." Rather than simply telling people to stop worrying, He redirected their attention toward creation, beauty, and God's ongoing care. Wonder softens the heart. Wonder interrupts anxiety. Wonder reminds us that God is continually revealing Himself through both extraordinary moments and ordinary gifts that we often overlook. Practical Takeaways This week, practice cultivating wonder by intentionally slowing down. Try asking yourself: * What is remarkable about this moment? * Where is beauty that I've stopped noticing? * What happens when I intentionally "look up" instead of remaining focused on my worries, phone, or to-do list? Sometimes the most profound moments of awe aren't found in extraordinary places—they're discovered when we become fully present to ordinary life. Key Takeaways * Wonder is available more often than we realize. * Attention determines much of what we experience. * Awe quiets rumination and broadens perspective. * Modern life constantly competes for our attention. * Looking up—literally and figuratively—helps restore our sense of wonder. * God often meets us through the beauty already surrounding us. Reflection As you move through this week, consider: Where might wonder already be waiting for you if you simply slowed down enough to notice it? Coming Next Week Next week, we'll continue the conversation by exploring What Healthy People Do Differently—the everyday habits, mindsets, and practices that contribute to emotional health, resilience, and flourishing. Disclaimer Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, mental health treatment, medical care, diagnosis, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, concerns about your mental health, or a mental health crisis, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional, your healthcare provider, or appropriate emergency resources. Until then, take a deep breath, you are not alone, you are fully known, and healing is holy work.

The Psychology of Joy: Why We Miss What's Good

Subscribe for free reflection journals and deeper resources:* https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] Listen & subscribe to Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace: https://pod.link/1864576270 [https://pod.link/1864576270] The Psychology of Joy: Why We Miss What's Good Why is it so difficult to enjoy the very things we've worked so hard to achieve? Many of us spend our lives moving from one milestone to the next. We tell ourselves we'll slow down after the next promotion, the next degree, the next accomplishment, the next season of life. Yet when we finally arrive, our attention quickly shifts to what's still unfinished, what's still missing, or what comes next. In this episode of Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace, Dr. Malorie explores the psychology and neuroscience of joy, why our brains naturally focus on problems, and how gratitude helps us notice the goodness that may already be present in our lives. Drawing from both scientific research and personal experience, Dr. Malorie shares how a gratitude practice that began more than thirty years ago transformed the way she experienced life—and why gratitude journaling remains one of the most common assignments she gives to patients today. Together, we'll explore how joy is not simply something we stumble upon. Often, joy is something we learn to notice. In This Episode * Why the brain naturally focuses on problems and threats * The neuroscience of negativity bias * Hedonic adaptation and why accomplishments quickly become normal * How gratitude changes attention and experience * Why joy is often found in ordinary moments * Biblical perspectives on remembering and gratitude * Practical ways to cultivate greater joy in everyday life Psychology & Neuroscience Our brains are designed to help us survive. One way they do that is by paying more attention to potential problems than positive experiences. Psychologists call this negativity bias. While this tendency once helped our ancestors stay alive, it can also make us overlook much of what is good in our lives. We also experience hedonic adaptation—the tendency for achievements, possessions, and even major life improvements to become our new normal surprisingly quickly. The good news is that the brain is capable of change. Through neuroplasticity, practices like gratitude can strengthen our ability to notice positive experiences, deepen appreciation, and cultivate greater joy over time. Psychology Meets Grace Throughout Scripture, God repeatedly calls His people to remember. Remember His faithfulness. Remember His provision. Remember what He has done. The invitation to gratitude is not about denying pain or pretending life is perfect. It is about training our attention to recognize God's presence and goodness even in the midst of an imperfect world. Joy is not the absence of hardship. Joy is learning to see goodness alongside it. A Resource for Going Deeper For more than thirty years, gratitude journaling has been part of my personal life and professional practice. The research on gratitude helped shape my own journey, and over the years I have seen the profound impact it can have on emotional well-being. That experience eventually led me to write: The G.L.A.D.S. Method for Cultivating Gratitude The book combines the neuroscience of gratitude, a practical assessment method, 52 weekly readings, and daily gratitude journaling to help cultivate gratitude as a way of being rather than simply an occasional practice. 📖 Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/G-L-D-S-Method-Cultivating-Gratitude/dp/B0D2J4P5XZ [https://www.amazon.com/G-L-D-S-Method-Cultivating-Gratitude/dp/B0D2J4P5XZ] Key Takeaways * Joy is often closer than we think. * The brain naturally notices what's wrong before what's right. * Gratitude helps retrain attention toward goodness. * Achievements alone rarely produce lasting joy. * Joy is less about circumstances and more about awareness. * Small daily practices can create meaningful change over time. Reflection As you move through this week, consider: What goodness might already be present in your life that you've stopped noticing? And what would change if you intentionally paid attention to it? Disclaimer Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, mental health treatment, medical care, diagnosis, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, concerns about your mental health, or a mental health crisis, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional, your healthcare provider, or appropriate emergency resources. Until then, take a deep breath, you are not alone, you are fully known, and healing is holy work.

The Art of Becoming More Fully Yourself

Subscribe for free reflection journals and deeper resources: https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] Listen & subscribe to Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace: https://pod.link/1864576270 [https://pod.link/1864576270] Who are you underneath the roles you carry, the expectations you've inherited, and the versions of yourself you've learned to perform? In this episode of Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace, Dr. Malorie explores what it means to become more fully yourself—not by becoming someone new, but by rediscovering the person God created you to be. Many of us spend years adapting to the expectations around us. We learn what earns approval, what helps us belong, and what keeps life moving forward. Over time, those adaptations can become so familiar that we begin to mistake them for our identity. But healing isn't always about adding something new. Sometimes it's about uncovering what has been there all along. Together, we'll explore the psychology of authenticity, the neuroscience of identity and change, the difference between performing and becoming, and the invitation faith offers to live from a deeper, truer place. In This Episode * Why many people lose touch with their authentic selves * The difference between performing and becoming * How identity is shaped by repeated experiences and expectations * Why authenticity often feels uncomfortable * The neuroscience behind change and self-discovery * How faith invites us to live from who we were created to be * Practical steps toward reconnecting with yourself Psychology & Neuroscience Our brains are wired to prefer what is familiar. Over time, repeated roles, behaviors, and expectations become well-worn neural pathways. Even when those patterns leave us feeling disconnected from ourselves, the brain often interprets familiar as safe. That's one reason becoming more fully yourself can feel uncomfortable. Growth isn't simply about learning something new. It often involves releasing old patterns, questioning long-held assumptions, and practicing new ways of showing up in the world. The discomfort doesn't necessarily mean you're moving in the wrong direction. Sometimes it means you're becoming. Psychology Meets Grace Throughout Scripture, we see people learning to grow into who they were created to be. Moses doubted. Peter stumbled. Esther hesitated. Yet God continually worked through imperfect people who were learning to trust His invitation. The journey of becoming isn't about perfection. It's about honesty. It's about courage. It's about allowing grace to meet us as we become more fully ourselves. When we stop performing and begin living from a deeper place of truth, we often discover that God has been inviting us there all along. Key Takeaways * Authenticity is often a process of uncovering rather than inventing. * Familiar is not the same thing as true. * Growth can feel uncomfortable because the brain prefers what it already knows. * Becoming yourself requires courage, honesty, and self-compassion. * Healing often involves reconnecting with parts of yourself you've neglected or forgotten. * God is often more interested in who we are becoming than how perfectly we perform. Reflection Take a moment this week to consider: Where in your life do you feel most like you're performing rather than simply being yourself? And what might one small step toward greater authenticity look like? Coming Next Week Next week, we'll continue the journey with: The Psychology of Joy: Why We Miss What's Good We'll explore why our brains naturally focus on problems, why joy can feel surprisingly elusive, and how gratitude helps us notice the goodness that may already be present in our lives. Disclaimer Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for psychotherapy, mental health treatment, medical care, diagnosis, or professional advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a therapeutic relationship. If you are experiencing significant emotional distress, concerns about your mental health, or a mental health crisis, please seek support from a qualified mental health professional, your healthcare provider, or appropriate emergency resources. Until then, take a deep breath, you are not alone, you are fully known, and healing is holy work.

Becoming Someone You Trust: Rebuilding Confidence From the Inside Out

What if confidence isn't something you find—but something you build? Many of us spend years wondering why we don't feel more confident, more certain, or more secure in ourselves. We assume confidence arrives first and then we take action. But what if confidence is actually the result of something deeper? In this episode of Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace, we explore the foundation beneath confidence: self-trust. Together, we'll examine how self-trust is formed, how it becomes damaged through burnout, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and broken promises to ourselves, and how we can begin rebuilding it one small choice at a time. Drawing from psychology, neuroscience, personal experience, and faith, this episode offers a compassionate path toward becoming someone you can depend on again. If you've ever felt disconnected from yourself, uncertain of your decisions, or discouraged by your own inconsistency, this conversation is for you. In This Episode * Why confidence is often the result of self-trust, not the cause * How chronic stress, burnout, and people-pleasing can erode confidence * The psychology of self-efficacy and keeping promises to yourself * Why small, consistent actions matter more than dramatic transformations * How shame undermines growth while grace creates room for change * A practical framework for rebuilding trust in yourself * What Scripture teaches about growth, faithfulness, and becoming Psychology Meets Grace From a psychological perspective, confidence grows through repeated experiences of competence, follow-through, and alignment with our values. Every time we keep a promise to ourselves—even a small one—we provide our brains with evidence that we are trustworthy. From a faith perspective, Scripture reminds us that transformation is often gradual rather than immediate. We see this in the life of Peter, who moved from impulsive confidence, to failure, to deeper faithfulness. God was not finished with Peter after his mistakes, and He is not finished with us either. Growth rarely happens all at once. More often, it is built through ordinary moments of faithfulness that accumulate over time. Reflection Questions * Where have I stopped trusting myself? * What promise to myself have I repeatedly abandoned? * What is one small commitment I can keep this week? * What would it look like to approach my growth with grace rather than shame? * How might God be inviting me to become someone I can trust? Resources 🎙️ Subscribe and listen: https://pod.link/1864576270 [https://pod.link/1864576270] 📖 Get free reflection journals and bonus resources: https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] If This Episode Resonated Please consider following, subscribing, leaving a review, or sharing the podcast with someone who may need it. These simple actions help more people discover the show and support the mission of bringing together psychology, faith, and healing conversations. Until then, take a deep breath. You are not alone, you are fully known, and healing is holy work.

The Power of Small Things: Why Tiny Habits Change Lives

Want deeper reflection and free companion journals for each episode? Subscribe to the Restored reflection library here: https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] Listen & follow Restored here: https://pod.link/1864576270 [https://pod.link/1864576270] We often think change happens through dramatic breakthroughs, big decisions, or finally "getting it together." But what if lasting transformation is actually built through small things repeated over time? In this episode of Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace, Dr. Malorie explores why tiny habits matter more than we often realize—and how psychology, neuroscience, and faith all point toward the quiet power of consistency. Together, we unpack why our brains respond better to small, manageable change than overwhelming overhauls, how repeated actions gradually shape neural pathways and emotional resilience, and why healing often grows in ordinary moments that don't feel significant at the time. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by self-improvement, discouraged by slow progress, or frustrated that change isn't happening fast enough, this conversation offers a gentler—and more sustainable—way forward. In this episode, we explore: • Why tiny habits are often more effective than dramatic change • How repetition rewires the brain and supports emotional growth • The connection between nervous system regulation and consistency • Why shame and perfectionism often sabotage lasting change • A faith perspective on small acts of faithfulness and steady growth Psychology + Grace Perspective Psychology tells us our brains change through repetition. Neural pathways strengthen through what we practice—not just what we intend. Faith offers a similar wisdom: growth is often formed through daily faithfulness, small acts of trust, and ordinary moments that slowly shape who we become. Maybe transformation isn't built in giant leaps. Maybe it's built in small, holy things repeated over time. Reflection Invitation As you listen, consider this: What is one small habit—tiny enough to feel doable—that could gently move you toward healing, peace, or the person you want to become? Don't forget to download this episode's reflection journal for deeper reflection and practical next steps: https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide [https://subscribepage.io/restored-reflection-guide] If this episode encouraged you, please consider following, leaving a review, or sharing it with someone who may need this reminder today. Those small actions truly help others find the show. Disclaimer: Restored: Where Psychology Meets Grace is intended for educational and reflective purposes only and is not a substitute for therapy, mental health treatment, or medical advice. While faith and psychological insights are explored together, listeners from all backgrounds are welcome here.