The mental health of astronauts has been examined in the literature and presented as a constant concern for space missions (Arone et al., 2021; Kanas, 1998; Landon et al., 2023; Liu et al., 2016). However, there has been minimal empirical research related to the various NASA healthcare and other professionals in leadership roles who are responsible for astronauts pre-mission, during missions, and in post-missions recovery (Thompson, 2023a). This is particularly concerning, as research has shown that suicide, mental health conditions, and burnout (Dawar et al., 2021; Lanocha, 2021; NIOSH, 2024; Petrie et al., 2019) are significant issues among mental health professionals and researchers (Hall, 2023; Hazell et al., 2021; Nicholls et al., 2022). This study builds on a previous study (Thompson, 2023a), which found that the experiences of awe, when viewed as a gateway to other resilience practices, can support the resilience and overall wellbeing of NASA leaders and medical professionals. The current narrative psychology study expands on this previous study that involved a single participant, by utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to examine the role that awe narratives can have with additional NASA leadership participants (n = 7). Narrative medicine and narrative therapy practices also informed the study, including the development of a semi-structured interview intervention and the subsequent data analysis, to ensure the humanity and dignity of each participant remained a focus throughout the process. This is consistent with IPA, as it explores how individuals understand and makes sense of a phenomenon (Smith and Osborn, 2004; Smith and Nizza, 2022). For this study, awe is the initial thread, or phenomenon, being examined while it also explores how this awe narrative intervention can also illuminate other resilience practices weaving an interconnected tapestry of overall wellbeing professionally and personally that includes cognitive reappraisal, finding meaning and purpose in life, gratitude, hope and optimism, and social connectedness.

This paper first examines the literature on awe and resilience related to this study, and then details the narrative psychology methodological framework that supported the examination of how awe narratives and related resilience practices can support these NASA leaders. Next, and consistent with IPA research (Smith and Nizza, 2022), the findings and discussion are presented together identifying the themes that emerged. Finally, the paper concludes with detailing the limitations and future opportunities that can expand on these findings.

Awe has been described as a complex, primarily positive emotion experienced in the presence of something or someone extraordinary that challenges an individual’s thinking (Stellar, 2021; Thompson and Jensen, 2023; Thompson, 2025a). Common contexts in which awe is experienced include nature and space, the arts, accomplishments (one’s own and others’), spirituality, and in the presence of others (Bai et al., 2017; Chen and Mongrain, 2020; Chirico et al., 2017; Cuzzolino, 2021; Danvers and Shiota, 2017; Shiota et al., 2007; Sturm et al., 2020; Yaden et al., 2018). While these categories are broad, recent research has revealed the complexity of awe by identifying nine categories, along with 20 sub-categories (Thompson, 2023b).

In their seminal work on awe, Keltner and Haidt (2003) explained there are two elements to awe experiences, a sense of vastness and a need for accommodation, or a need for a new mental schema due to the vastness. As awe continues to be explored through diverse empirical methodologies, our understanding of awe continues to evolve. In context of the current study, this includes the notion that awe experiences are not limited to solely extraordinary moments in life, but can also be experienced in everyday, ordinary moments (Keltner, 2023; Graziosi and Yaden, 2019; Schneider, 2009; Shiota, 2021; Thompson, 2022a; Thompson, 2023b).

Developing and sharing awe narratives has been shown to serve as a gateway to many resilience practices and to initiate an upward spiral of wellbeing (Lutz et al., 2015; Monroy and Keltner, 2023; Tabibnia, 2020; Stellar et al., 2018; Sturm, et al., 2020). Recent work by Shoshani and Hen (2025) explored the use of eliciting awe through virtual reality to support the resilience of children and adolescents affected by war; Kaur Dhillon (2025) proposed that integrating awe experiences such as in nature and the arts can build resilience; Chang et al. (2024), examined the relationship between psychological resilience and awe; and Chen et al. (2025), demonstrated that awe experiences can increase resilience and wellbeing. Additionally, other recent studies established the relationship between awe and other specific contributors to resilience including awe boosting optimism (Pan and Jiang, 2024) and self-compassion (Yuan et al., 2025), and awe being supportive of having meaning in life (Yuan et al., 2024).

The author’s previous qualitative work examined the relationship between both awe narratives serving as a resilience practice as well as awe narratives being a potential gateway to other resilience practices. This includes with conflict resolution professionals (Thompson et al., 2022); in policing generally (Thompson, 2023c), with hostage negotiators (Thompson and Jensen, 2023), investigators (Thompson, 2023d), and with leadership (Thompson, 2022c; Thompson, 2024); medicine and healthcare (Thompson, 2023a); and other diverse audiences (Thompson, 2022a; Thompson, 2022b; Thompson, 2023b). Related to the current study, many of the previously mentioned publications by the author specifically explored how awe narratives can be utilized to enhance both an individual’s professional skills and support their personal wellbeing.

Resilience is defined in various ways but can broadly be understood in three parts: planning for, enduring, and recovering from adverse and stressful life moments; seeking support services when facing challenges; and cultivating positive life experiences (Thompson et al., 2022; Thompson, 2023b; Thompson, 2025a). A diverse set of resilience practices is needed throughout life to not just cope but to thrive (Bonanno, 2005; Bonanno, 2021; Thompson, 2020). Related to the previously provided definition of resilience and its three elements, this paper supports the notion that resilience is not a fixed personality trait and instead, it can be continually cultivated throughout and individual’s life (Cicchetti, 2010; Masten, 2001; Southwick et al., 2014; Yates et al., 2015). Within the context of this study, prominent resilience researchers, Rachel Yehuda and Anne S. Masten, both have emphasized the importance of proactively practicing resilience (Southwick et al., 2014).

In this study, key resilience practices include engaging in cognitive reappraisal (Riepenhausen et al., 2022; Southwick and Charney, 2018), finding meaning and purpose in life (Aten, 2021; Ostafin and Proulx, 2020), practicing gratitude (Emmons, 2010; Wilson, 2016), fostering hope and optimism (Reivich and Shatté, 2003; Vos et al., 2021), and cultivating social connections (Britt et al., 2021; Suttie, 2017). The American Psychological Association (APA) publication on building resilience, through the support of a vast array of expert contributors, detail similar practices, or as they refer to them as strategies, to support the on-going development of resilience (APA, 2020).

Narrative psychology provided the framework for this study to examine the role of awe among NASA leaders. Narrative psychology is a broad qualitative methodological approach involving scientific analysis of how individuals reflect on, share, and are shaped by stories (Polkinghorne, 1995; Wong and Breheny, 2018). A person’s reality is created through the story they craft, which also helps them make sense of life events (McAdams, 2001; Morioka and Nomura, 2021; Thompson, 2025a; Thompson, 2025b; Thompson and Launer, 2025). These life stories are not fixed; instead, they are ever-evolving and adaptable, shaping how the past is recalled, how one lives in the present moment, and how the future is envisioned (Dingfelder, 2011; Hill, 2022; Hunt, 2023; Rutledge, 2016; Thompson, 2025a). The notion that “stories are science” is supported by the researcher’s role in examining the sensemaking processes of individuals and groups while also identifying emerging themes (Hunt, 2023; Thompson, 2025a).

Within the narrative psychology framework, three specific approaches were utilized in this study: interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), narrative-based medicine, and narrative therapy. IPA aims to understand an individual’s experience of a phenomenon–awe, in this study–and then allows the researcher to interpret the data and establish themes across multiple individuals’ accounts (Creswell, 2007; Smith et al., 2009; van Manen, 1990). IPA prioritizes the depth and richness of data; therefore, large samples sizes are not necessary to establish rigor (Smith and Osborn, 2004; Smith and Nizza, 2022). Importantly, the results and findings in IPA studies are indicative of the specific group being studied and are not universal claims. IPA reinforces the notion that stories are science, especially through the role of the researcher. Known as the hermeneutic circle (Frechette et al., 2020), the researcher’s own experience with the phenomenon supports their capacity to analyze the data, resulting in meaningful themes (Smith et al., 2009). Importantly, IPA does not reduce individual voices to flattened categories; instead, it honors the uniqueness and dignity of each participant. This study reflects that by presenting individual accounts and in-depth comments that highlight the humanity behind each theme. While IPA served as the primary methodological approach, narrative analysis offered supplemental guidance by focusing on how individuals make meaning of their lives and experiences within social contexts (Josselson and Hammack, 2021).

Narrative medicine, also referred to as narrative-based medicine (NBM), is a humane approach to medical practice in which the clinician absorbs, interprets, and acts upon the stories of others (Charon, 2001; DasGupta, 2008; Launer, 2022). Though originally developed for physicians, NBM has since been adapted for use by other medical and healthcare professionals and in a variety of professional contexts (Launer, 2018; Thompson and Launer, 2025). In this study, and much like IPA, NBM ensures that the humanity and dignity of the individual remain central (Centor, 2007; Launer, 2016; Loy and Kowalsky, 2024; Thompson, 2025a; Zaharias, 2018). Just as a good physician treats the disease, while a great one treats the person who has the disease (Lanoche, 2021), this study aimed to illuminate the individual humanity of NASA healthcare and other leaders, whose personal stories led to the emergence of shared themes. As Dr. Rita Charon observes, “there is a life in its unity that cannot be seen in its parts, yet one must see the parts in order to see the whole” (Charon, 2016, p. 180). Moreover, NBM helped ensure that the motivation behind the interview questions, and the subsequent writing of this paper, was grounded in curiosity (Launer, 2018), rather than a predetermined set of expected answers or themes. This complements the inductive approach to IPA (and narrative inquiry), wherein data are collected with openness, rather than restricted to preconceived frameworks designed to make findings “fit” (Smith and Osborn, 2003; Smith and Nizza, 2022). As Dr. John Launer elaborates, rather than asking “what is really going on?”, the curious researcher asks “How are people giving an account of their experiences?” (Launer, 2018, p. 3). He further explains, again, in line with IPA, that the emerging story is continually being woven, much like a tapestry.

Narrative therapy practices supported, guided, and informed each stage of the study, including the formulation and delivery of the interview questions. Although the study was not designed as a therapeutic or clinical intervention, the act of sharing one’s story with an interested and empathetic listener can have a positive, therapeutic effect (Atkinson, 2002; Murray and Sergeant, 2011). Typically, individuals engage in narrative therapy to address a problem or negative life experiences (Hill, 2022; Morgan, 2000; White and Epston, 1990). However, in this study, narrative therapy techniques and practices were applied to elicit stories about positive moments in NASA leaders’ professional and personal lives. Engaging in this type of reflective practice can have numerous benefits, including countering and reducing work-place burnout by promoting hope and optimism (Varma, 2025).

These techniques included fostering a sense of agency, re-authoring or re-storying, both core skills used in narrative therapy (Carr, 2000; Hill, 2022; White, 1995), and creating space for stories to “breathe” (Frank, 2010; Launer, 2024; Thompson, 2025b), allowing for thick descriptions (Morgan, 2000) of awe-related moments to emerge. From this perspective, the researcher also took the role of “co-author” (Gibson and Heyman, 2014; Thompson, 2025a). Adapting this term from narrative therapy, the research as a co-author collaborates with the participants by guiding them in exploring how awe has influenced their lives. This was initially done by strategically designing the semi-structured questions that also explored related resilience practices. This metaphorical role as co-author supported the NASA leaders to re-author, or re-story, their experiences to tell their stories in a way that highlights their strengths, abilities, and values (Hill, 2022).

In this context, a sense of agency refers to the participants’ recognition of how their own actions contributed to a broader sense of hope and purpose (Adler, 2012; Gibson and Heyman, 2014; Hill, 2022). Re-storying and re-authoring allowed participants reinterpret seemingly ordinary moments of their lives as extraordinary and awe-inspiring (Graziosi and Yaden, 2019; Schneider, 2009; Thompson, 2023b).

The researcher’s role as a co-author further enabled participants to move beyond surface-level responses to the guiding questions. Instead of offering quick or apathetic answers, they were encouraged to pause, reflect, and search for personal meaning in their responses. This often resulted in deeper, richer narratives in which each answer built upon the next, interconnecting and forming a metaphorical tapestry that illustrated awe’s role as a gateway to other resilience practices. This approach is consistent with NBM’s process of narrative crafting (Gray, 2025; Launer, 2018; Lazarus, 2024; Narrative-Based Medicine Lab, n.d.; Nash et al., 2023; Pollock, 2001; Thompson, 2025b).

This study focused on awe stories due to the previous research that established the relationship between awe-based narratives and resilience through interview-based, non-therapeutic interventions (Thompson, 2023a; 2023b; Thompson and Jensen, 2023; Thompson, 2024). More broadly, the development of life stories has been associated with key resilience practices, including cognitive reappraisal, finding meaning and purpose in life, gratitude, hope and optimism, and social connectedness (De Vivo, 2024; Hou, 2023; McAdams and McLean, 2013; Regan et al., 2023; Rutledge, 2016).

The narrative literature demonstrates that life stories do not merely explain one’s life; they actively shape it, crafting how the past is recalled, how the present is experienced, and how the future is envisioned. The study builds on a previous investigation of NASA leadership (Thompson, 2023a) by further exploring how awe-specific narratives may serve as gateways to resilience practices and contribute to an upward spiral of wellbeing across professional and personal domains.

The current study followed the same methodological process and maintained the same institutional review board approval as the earlier study, which involved a single NASA healthcare leader (Thompson, 2023a), as well as another study that used awe narratives with police hostage negotiators (Thompson and Jensen, 2023).

This study excluded the previously published data on the single NASA leader and includes the data from seven additional NASA leaders. Table 1 presents the demographic information of these participants.

Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted and recorded via Zoom, then transcribed. The digital data files were password-protected and accessible only to the researcher-author. Each interview consisted of approximately 19 questions and lasted about 1 hour. A digital follow-up survey was also administered to gain further insight from the participants, including reflections on their experience of participating in the study. Following the same process as in previous studies (Thompson, 2023a; Thompson and Jensen, 2023), and consistent with both IPA (Smith et al., 2009; Smith and Nizza, 2022) and narrative analysis (Butina, 2015; Josselson and Hammack, 2021), the researcher took notes during the interviews, reviewed the transcripts multiple times, drawing on prior experience researching the phenomenon of awe and analyzing narratives, identified emergent themes.

Consistent with IPA, this study aimed to explore a phenomenon, in this case, awe (Smith and Nizza, 2022). More precisely, rather than formulating a traditional research question (Smith et al., 2009), the study sought to examine how awe-based narratives might serve as gateways to other resilience practices, contribute to an upward spiral of wellbeing, and support the work of those involved. Given the unique leadership roles of the NASA participants, the potential impact of the findings extends beyond the individuals themselves to those they influence professionally. Importantly, the study’s design was intentional in seeking to provide an intervention that is not only evidence-based but also practical.

Consistent with IPA research, the results and discussion are presented together to create a coherent narrative (Bonner and Friedman, 2011; Cuzzolino, 2021; Smith and Osborn, 2003; Smith et al., 2009; Thompson et al., 2022; Thompson and Jensen, 2023). This approach illustrates how awe is woven throughout each theme and how the themes themselves are interconnected. Moreover, awe is not only a gateway to other resilience practices, but, together with these practices, forms a tapestry, where each element is interwoven into a new “whole”, as described earlier by Dr. Charon. While theme development is a central feature of narrative methodologies such as IPA, the humanity and dignity of each participant remain at the forefront in this section, preventing the findings from being reduced to a broad “sum of the parts.” Each theme is therefore illustrated and supported by individual participant comments and narratives.

The results and discussion begin with how participants described the phenomenon of awe and the impact the awe narrative interviews had. Table 2 presents examples of how their definitions and descriptions of awe support and expanded upon the definition used in this study: awe is a complex emotion experienced in the presence of someone or something extraordinary that challenges our thinking. Awe experiences are often intense and may arise during both ordinary and extraordinary moments, whether anticipated or surprising. Awe can also be inspirational and evoke a sense of smallness, vastness, and connectedness, to others, to nature, and to the universe.

While Table 2 illustrates the “parts” of awe that contribute to the overall definition, the “whole”—as Dr. Charon described, the richness of IPA is further highlighted by the following thick description of awe shared by one participant:

This narrative, shared by a NASA leader, underscores the complexity of awe and highlights its immediate and enduring positive effects, shaping thoughts, emotions, and behavior both in the moment and in the future.

To assess the efficacy of the awe narrative intervention, participants were asked, both during the interview and in the post-interview survey, whether (1) they had previously considered awe’s potential role in their professional work and (2) more broadly, whether they perceived value in engaging this kind of reflection. Participant responses revealed both surprise at awe’s relevance and a deep respect for its influence, especially in terms of initiating an upward spiral of positive wellbeing:

While there are distinct differences in the two responses, collectively they demonstrate how even a brief reflection prompted by an awe-related question can potentially have a perceived significant impact. These responses reveal awe’s value as a standalone positive contributor, capable of initiating an upward spiral of wellbeing while also serving as a gateway to other resilience attributes.

The next response further support the notion that the awe narrative interview intervention can be both valuable and meaningful for participants, prompting reflection on the past while also serving as motivation for the future:

Table 3 provides an overview of the participant feedback collected via the post-interview survey, where participants shared reflections on what it was like to take part in the interview. They were also asked whether anything specific stood out to them or was particularly meaningful about participating in the interview and the overall awe-focused study.

Collectively, the participants expressed finding value in the awe narrative interviews. Once again, the gateway and tapestry metaphors between awe and other resilience practices were revealed through these reflections, specifically, cognitive reappraisal, gratitude, hope and optimism, meaning and purpose in their work, and social connectedness. Each of these themes emerged repeatedly throughout the interviews and are further explored in the sections that follow.

The capacity of awe narratives to serve as gateways to other resilience practices, as previously noted, does not occur in isolation. These practices and attributes are often interconnected, reinforcing the tapestry metaphor. From this perspective, the following five resilience skills emerged as primary themes in the data: cognitive reappraisal, gratitude, hope and optimism, meaning and purpose in life, and social connectedness. These themes contribute to upward spirals of wellbeing and, importantly, have been shown in previous research to counter negative downward spirals such as depression, anxiety, burnout and cynicism, and to serve as protective factors against suicide (Hooker et al., 2020; O’Higgins et al., 2022; Southwick et al., 2021; Thompson et al., 2022). The thick descriptions of individual participant narratives included in this section illustrate these themes in resilience, often blending multiple resilience dimensions together, consistent with existing research on the transformative potential of awe narratives (Bonner and Friedman, 2011; Hlava et al., 2023; Thompson, 2022a; 2022b; 2023a; 2023b; 2024; Yaden et al., 2018).

Although it is beyond the scope of this study, prior research suggests that the benefits of awe narrative practices are not limited to reflecting on or sharing one’s own experiences; similar positive effects may also occur when individuals are exposed to the awe stories of others (Thompson, 2025a).

Considering this study utilized awe experiences as the phenomenon being examined, the interview included exploring how awe specifically has impacted their professional and personal lives. The following stories exhibit how the awe-prompt questions allowed the participants to reflect on the significance awe had in different moments related to their NASA work:

The narrative approach also provided NASA leaders the opportunity to reflect on awe moments in their personal lives, revealing how those experiences continue to influence them:

This study has supported and advanced previous findings on awe narrative-related themes, making a unique contribution to both awe research and to phenomenological and narrative methodologies. That withstanding, the study is not without limitations. Firstly, while the sample size is consistent with other IPA studies and recommendations (Smith and Osborn, 2004; Smith et al., 2009; Smith and Nizza, 2022), it is important to state that these findings are unique to the group studied and are not intended to be indicative of, or necessarily applicable to, a wider audience. While not the intention or within the scope of this study, a larger sample and broader examination of awe narratives with leaders, especially with NASA and other high-stress, high-pressure professionals, could provide additional empirical evidence to support individuals in their important work.

Next, these findings are indicative of the specific moment in time they participated in the study. Additional research can expand on these findings by conducting interview interventions at intervals (e.g., every 3 months) while incorporating quantitative measures to assess impact on both professional and personal wellbeing in a mixed-methods design. Considering awe is a complex emotion, it is necessary to continue researching it using diverse qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

Narrative research has demonstrated its potential to support the wellbeing of the individual, as well as those exposed to their stories. This study advances previous research by showing that awe narratives can serve as an evidenced-based, practical, non-therapeutic intervention to support the public and, in particular, NASA leaders, including healthcare professionals, not only in potentially strengthening their professional skills but also in enhancing their personal lives.

These findings are promising by demonstrating that awe-based narratives can act as a gateway to other resilience practices such as cognitive reappraisal, gratitude, hope and optimism, meaning and purpose in life, and social connectedness. In doing so, they offer an opportunity to enhance both professional leadership abilities and overall mental health. The presence of these resilience themes is evidenced through individual participant stories, in which their humanity and dignity are not reduced to generalized categories. Instead, each participant’s experience is honored by including narrative evidence to support each theme. These themes can be explored outside this specific group of NASA leaders with the possibilities to further examine this with others, such as with astronauts as part of their space missions (pre, during, and after) as well as analog environments, both which present exciting future opportunities.

The complex nature of awe is further revealed through these narratives, which show that awe, and the resilience practices it connects with, does not occur in isolation. Rather, the stories reveal an intertwined tapestry, in which, for the purposes of this study, awe can be that first thread.

Finally, this last story from a NASA leader serves as a reminder that the awe narratives we craft can shape our lives by offering us an opportunity to reflect on what we have to be grateful for, to recognize what has been accomplished, to find meaning and purpose in our lives, to invigorates hope and optimism by knowing we are building a positive future for ourselves and others, and to acknowledging our significant social connections: