Earthrise from Apollo 8. Photo by NASA

Astronauts who see Earth from space often experience the "overview effect"—a powerful shift in perspective. They feel awe, wonder, and a deep appreciation for our planet’s beauty and interconnectedness. Seeing Earth as a unified whole, without borders, strengthens their desire to protect our fragile ecosystem and reinforces our shared humanity.

Mark Travers says we can try this at home. One approach is self-transcendence—shifting our focus from self-centeredness to a broader perspective that embraces altruism, spirituality, and the pursuit of meaning beyond ourselves. Another is through awe-inspiring experiences, such as immersion in nature, spiritual contemplation, profound moments with music or dance, or the use of psychedelics. In short, get outside.

"A 2023 study found that experiencing self-transcendence can help a person endure personal suffering by enhancing positive emotions, allowing them to view their suffering as something they can overcome in the grand scheme of things and channeling their emotions into positive coping strategies such as being altruistic rather than negative ones such as engaging in substance abuse."

"In social relationships, research shows that awe can lower a person’s sense of relational entitlement, make them more generous and increase their ability to engage in ethical decision making."

ARTICLE:How ‘The Overview Effect’ Can Make You Feel Alive Again—By A Psychologist