A foundational theme at Building 21 is the importance of awe, beauty, pleasure, and play in our pursuit of knowledge and a better world. Dr. Paula Williams is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Utah who is researching the connection between a propensity to feel awe and increased resilience, creativity, curiosity, and growth mindset.

Link to a recent publication exploring how, "the tendency to view stressors as an opportunity for growth may be a characteristic adaptation of individuals high in aesthetic engagement and, in particular, proneness to aesthetic chill.": https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-8...