What happens in your brain when you gaze at a starlit sky? How can spending time in nature transform your perspective on life?
From thunderstorms to mountain ranges, nature’s grandeur affects us in profound ways. Psychology researcher and professor Dacher Keltner asserts that awe-inspiring nature has the power to boost our mental health, enhance our cognitive abilities, and foster connections with others.
Continue reading to explore how the natural world can spark wonder, insight, and personal transformation in ways that might surprise you.
The Power of Awe-Inspiring Nature
In addition to man-made awe-inspiring sights and sounds, natural phenomena frequently elicit awe, from storms and earthquakes to landscapes and night skies. Keltner writes that, when exposed to the power of nature, people often feel a sense of their own smallness. Nevertheless, Keltner emphasizes that connecting with awe-inspiring nature can salve many modern ills, both physical and emotional. Studies show that our bodies and brains are wired to respond positively to nature. Similar research shows that even a brief exposure to the outdoors can increase altruism, improve reasoning skills, and nurture more inclusive views toward other people.
(Shortform note: Studies back up Keltner’s assertions about the curative powers of nature, but there may be other explanations beyond its ability to invoke awe. In The Nature Fix, Florence Williams argues that since humans evolved to live in the natural world, urban life comes at a biological cost, such as ever-present noises that keep our bodies on alert, an onslaught of media fighting for our attention, and a simple lack of sunlight causing widespread deficiencies of vitamin D. Not only do natural settings remove the constant stressors of city life, but spending time in the wild improves cognitive function simply by relaxing our overtaxed minds. With these benefits, the awe that nature inspires may just be a happy bonus.)
Keltner says that in addition to wonder, nature can evoke sudden insights or realizations that transform your way of thinking. Whether these insights are personal, spiritual, or scientific, Keltner suggests that the common thread among them is realizing that we’re all part of a larger, world-defining network, from the miniscule to the universal. Such “revelatory awe” lets us see the world in terms of relationships, patterns, and processes rather than as separate, static objects and people. When confronted by nature, scientists, philosophers, theologians, and everyday people can suddenly view themselves and everything around them as part of a unified, universal order.
(Shortform note: The “revelatory awe” Keltner speaks of isn’t just a motivator for the pursuit of knowledge but also a powerful teaching tool. In Cosmos, Carl Sagan frequently invokes the awe of natural discovery as a means to engage readers with the progress of science. According to Sagan, the study of astronomy in particular shows how vast the universe actually is and how small our place in it can seem when viewed from a cosmic perspective. Rather than being cowed by these revelations, awe-inspired scientists have worked for centuries to expand our knowledge of the universe and explore our place in it.)
