“It is how we face all of our struggles in life that determines the kind of person we become.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Frank White is a self-described “space philosopher” who coined the term overview effect after an idea about the importance of space travel and human consciousness took hold while on a flight headed west from the East Coast. It was the early 1980’s, a time when the space program was in full swing. White was affiliated with the Space Studies Institute, a nonprofit which studied the future of human life inside space stations. As he flew across the country and gazed down on mountain ranges, plains, and deserts, it occurred to him that people living in a space station would have a different perspective of Earth. Looking down on the planet from outer space, they would see Earth not as a collection of separate states, countries, and continents, but as simply a small planet suspended in the cosmos.
White interviewed astronauts to learn about what they experienced when they looked at Earth from inside a space capsule. Did seeing our planet from this perspective change them? Not all the astronauts were changed, but those who were had similar experiences. Not only were they in awe of the Earth’s beauty, but they also had a profound shift in perspective, characterized by overwhelming feelings of identification with humankind and an increased sense of connection with all humanity. Some of the astronauts were forever changed; seeing Earth from far away inspired a sense of awe and was transformative; their self-concept and value system shifted, and forever changed their sense of connection with the world.
The overview effect is a phenomenon related to the cognitive changes that occur when a particularly striking visual stimulus, such as Earth, the Grand Canyon, or other natural wonders, inspire awe in the observer. Before orbiting Earth, many of the astronauts had a strong sense of national identity, but their pride was replaced with connection to all of humanity when they viewed their home from space. They also expressed an appreciation for the vulnerability of our planet; our planet looked very delicate and small floating in a vast, cold, and dark universe. Although most of us will not have the opportunity to view Earth from afar in a spacecraft, there are plenty of awe-inspiring stimuli in our natural world that have the power to shift our perspective.
Feelings of awe—a powerful sensation of intense inspiration—is an essential element of the overview effect. It arises when we experience an event that is momentarily overwhelming, such as beauty in nature, a work of art, or an act of compassion, and challenges us to absorb the sheer scale of what we encounter. Importantly, awe is humbling and provides a flash of realization that we are part of something larger than ourselves.
We need not travel to faraway places to experience awe; it can be found in the mundane, provided we are willing to see it. White found that the overview effect varied among astronauts and was based on the perspective they had of Earth during their mission. Those who traveled the furthest away reported an immediate transformation; seeing Earth from afar, delicately perched in space forever changed them. The astronauts who traveled a “low earth orbit” in which their view of the planet was up close had a more muted experience. They found the view inspiring but not necessarily transformative. But for those who were deployed on multiple low earth missions, their perspective shifted over time. The overview effect grew with each exposure, having a more gradual impact; most eventually came to see themselves as part of something larger.
Much like the astronauts on low earth orbit missions, repeated experiences of wonder and inspiration can widen our perspective and help us to see our connection to humanity. We are starting to understand the important role social connection plays in our health. Once thought of as being an emotional perk of living in a supportive community, we now know that being part of a large group is essential to both one’s mental and physical health. Although having a few intimate ties and good friends is associated with well-being, feeling you are part of a community—a church, synagogue, or neighborhood—confers even greater benefits, adding an additional boost to immunity and improving recovery rates from illness. People who have strong community ties also tend to engage in healthier lifestyle behaviors; they eat more nutritious foods, exercise more regularly, and have healthier sleep patterns. These studies support other research that has found that just under 50% of our long-term health is determined by genes, lifestyle behaviors, or medical interventions. The other half is influenced strongly by a blend of our circumstances, attitudes, and, most importantly, the strength of our social connections.
Pain, both physical and emotional, causes us to turn our attention inward. When we are suffering, our tendency is to shut down, turn in, and withdraw. Studies have shown that people who express the highest levels of negative emotions are also the most self-focused; this is evidenced in the predominance of their use of first-person singular pronouns— “me, myself, I”. They also are more prone to rumination, continuously recounting past experiences with the same storyline without showing any enhanced understanding or illumination. Withdrawal and self-absorption isolate us. Negativity pushes people away, makes us hard to be with, while we sink further into a hole that can be very hard to crawl out of. Being awash in our suffering creates a vicious cycle that weakens our capacity to heal, often leading to more pain.
One of the most effective tools for healing is shifting our attention, looking away from our own suffering to focus on others. Such a claim is not speculative; studies show that where and how we focus our attention is correlated to the intensity of our pain and our capacity to heal. Focusing on others has been shown to expedite the healing process. People with chronic diseases who express higher levels of kindness and compassion report lower levels of pain and have fewer symptoms than those who are self-absorbed and inwardly focused. This may also explain why some people seem to suddenly develop chronic diseases shortly after retiring. Evidence suggests that being an active, contributing member of one’s work community may provide a certain level of immunity and help to mitigate pain; retirement may be more isolating, resulting in more time for rumination and withdrawal.
Being part of a caring community is part of being human. We have the longest period of childhood than any other species and live in the most complex social environment of any other primate. It seems our brains are hardwired for both cooperation and kindness, as scientists have identified several independent brain functions that prime us to build safe and cooperative social environments. One of these brain circuits enables us to generate positive emotions, allowing us to shift our attention away from negative evaluations and reframe experiences positively, a skill that is welcoming to others and makes them feel safe. Another develops resilience, allowing us to bounce back from adversity and, interestingly, gets stronger when we practice empathy and compassion. Yet another circuit is related to attention, an important skill for expressing kindness and compassion; this is the area that is strengthened with meditation. The fourth circuit wires us for generosity; it is related to the satisfaction we feel when we give to others. The next time someone insists that humans are competitive and are focused only on their self-interests, think otherwise, as our biology suggests that we are built to flourish in caring communities.
The experience of awe can create a shift in perspective, but a wider view—one that looks beyond our own self-interests—primes us to notice awe-inspiring moments. It is when we are busy attending to our inner thoughts, problems, goals, desires that we are likely to overlook the vibrant colors of a sunset, the sound of snow falling, or the genuine kindness of a stranger. It is interesting to note that the astronauts who were completely focused on the logistics of their mission reported hardly any change in their perspective; they described the view of Earth as “interesting” but not transformative.
The Dalai Lama encourages us to look away from our narrow self-interests to examine the world from all angles: front to back; side to side; top to bottom. Doing so opens us to all the wonders that life has to offer. He reminds us that it is with open-minded awareness, attention, and curiosity that we cultivate a generous spirit, one that makes us easy to be with and adds to the healing of the world. Examining life through a wide lens helps connect us to others and gives us the space needed to explore what it means to be human, reminding us that there are no borders when we look at Earth from a distance. This holiday season, may we acknowledge that we belong to the vast community we call humans, all of us living together on a small and delicate planet floating through the dark expanse of the cosmos. May our connection to humanity remind us to tap into our human skills of cooperation and generosity, doing our part to make our world safe, kind, and welcoming so that all have the opportunity to flourish. Happy Holidays!
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