Watching a beautiful sunset is not only life affirming and the birthright of every human being on the planet, it also allows the mind to put things in perspective, to see stressors in context, to remind ourselves that this too shall pass.
You may recall a few weeks back I wrote on the importance of viewing daylight early in the morning and at the end of the day to regulate sleep patterns.
The same interview with Dr. Andrew Huberman which was the basis for this article held another intriguing nugget. It was so intriguing, in fact, that it became the basis for a whole new missive.
Though sleep is unquestionably integral to our well being, it turns out that watching a sunset is up there too.
It’s not your imagination.
When you look at a horizon or vista, your eyes send a signal to your brain that it’s time to relax.
Interestingly, it also cues ‘big picture’ thinking.
The melding of philosophy and brainwaves is backed by recent science.
How on earth can something as simple as gazing off into the distance change the chemical makeup of your brain and make even the most pedantic of us into big picture thinkers? It begins with sight.
Your eyes are a part of your central nervous system, an extension of the brain that constantly feeds information to the motherboard.
These little pieces of brain have an enormous impact on our state of mind. Human survival has been largely dependent upon the eyes relaying whether to be alert or relaxed.
Eyesight works in tandem with other senses, of course, but in terms of sheer volume of information, sight is a superhighway of sensory input.
When we’re stressed, our pupils can be likened to ‘soda straws’. Biologically, this helps us survive. Laser focus - literally a narrow field of vision - goes hand in hand with being on high alert.
When we’re relaxed, our pupils are dilated and we have wider, panoramic vision.
When we expand our view, both figuratively and in real life, we cue the brain to stand down. Pupils dilate, breathing deepens, and our brain sees the bigger picture.
I mean, how cool is that??
Think Big Thoughts
Watching a beautiful sunset is not only life affirming and the birthright of every human being on the planet, it also allows the mind to put things in perspective, to see stressors in context, to remind ourselves that this too shall pass.
As I write this, I’m in the enviable position of gazing across a frozen lake to the sun setting, pink and gold, onto the woods beyond. It’s lovely. The best desk in the world, really. And rather than detracting from my focus, it is providing profound inspiration, especially considering the subject matter.
The good news is that you need not witness a sunset over a beautiful body of water to cue this effect.
The simple act of staring into the distance, wherever you may be, including looking up at the sky, is enough to tell the brain it’s okay to take a break from survival mode and THINK BIG THOUGHTS.
Nature always helps, of course. But if you’re in the heart of an urban jungle, look to your horizon, and your mind will switch gears.
Taking a deep breath and looking at the bigger picture in front of you is not only universally instinctual, it cues a deeper, abstract way of thinking that has little to do with surviving - and everything to do with the meaning of life.
Love this, Heather. I'd forgotten that tidbit from Andrew Huberman, but not only that, you write so beautifully it was a pleasure to read in general :).
I hope it is equally true for watching the sunrise!