It was the London Marathon this past weekend – it’s amazing to see people running 26.2 miles in their various costumes, fundraising for their charities. I did this 25 years ago, and remember how tough it was!

On the breakfast show the next morning, Lindsey Burrow, the wife of the late Rob Burrow, was interviewed. She had completed the marathon to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease research. Rob died from this condition – a cruel disease in patients I’ve cared for in my Neurology clinics.

Rob worked tirelessly to raise funding and awareness about MND before his passing. One of the clips showed Rob’s rugby teammates literally carrying him across the finish line at a previous marathon.

That clip got me all choked up – moved by the courage of Rob and Lindsey, and his close friends who were there through thick and thin, literally carrying him when he couldn’t walk.

I was so moved.

I was in awe.

This got me thinking about how experiences of awe and inspiration affect our brain health.

📍Awe as a Catalyst for Brain Health

Stories of human courage and determination like Rob’s can do more than just move us emotionally – they can become powerful catalysts for positive change in our own lives.

Research shows that experiencing awe can increase our willingness to embrace new behaviours and step outside our comfort zones. This makes moments of inspiration particularly valuable when we’re trying to adopt brain-healthy habits.

📍3 Ways to Harness Inspiration for Brain Health Actions

🌟1️⃣ Use Inspired Momentum for Brain-Healthy Routines

The emotional uplift from inspirational stories creates a neurochemical boost that can help overcome inertia – particularly useful for establishing brain-healthy routines.

After watching or reading something genuinely moving, your brain experiences elevated oxytocin and dopamine levels, enhancing empathy, motivation, and reward.

🌟2️⃣ Override Decision Fatigue with Inspirational Reminders

By evening, your brain’s decision-making energy is often depleted, making it harder to choose healthy options over convenient ones.

Strategic exposure to awe-inducing content can reset your brain’s executive function temporarily, giving you a second wind for making brain-healthy choices at day’s end.

This works through what neuroscientists call “value reorientation” – inspiration helps your brain reconnect with your deeper values rather than immediate gratification.

🌟3️⃣ Build Resilience Through Community Stories

Powerful lifestyle changes can happen when supported by community – the sense of community and friendship as seen with Rob and his teammates.

When we share stories that move us with others, our brain creates stronger memory encoding and emotional reinforcement of the lessons within those stories.

This social component amplifies our motivation and helps maintain consistency with brain-healthy habits during challenging times.

📍Try this:

Create an “inspiration toolkit” for brain health. Collect 3-5 short videos, images, or quotes that reliably move you. Use them strategically – before your morning routine, when evening decision fatigue hits, or share one weekly with a friend – convert those powerful feelings of awe into consistent actions that support your brain health!

📍Question for you today

What was the last experience that moved you, made you “all choked up’”?

(Bonus 2nd Q) And how might you capture that feeling in your ‘inspiration toolkit’ to support a specific brain-healthy habit you’d like to strengthen this week?

Wishing you moments of wonder and connection,

Dr Sui Wong

PS – Speaking of brain health support, my new book “Magnesium: Restore and Revitalize Your Brain and Body” launches today!! 🎉 Did you know that > 50% of the western population have insufficient magnesium in their diet without realising it, and magnesium levels support brain health and energy levels? This book shares the what, the why, and more importantly, the how to – practical strategies to make sustainable change to support your health ☺️ Out now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle Unlimited. The Kindle copy is at the special launch price of £2.99 (RRP £6.99) for one week only!

Dr Sui Wong

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