Published: March 24, 2020

 

Photo on board the ISS astronaut looking out the cupola windows at earthWhen viewing the Earth as a collective whole, it’s difficult not to feel a sense of connectedness and unity. On our blue marble, suspended in the black velvet backdrop of space, is everyone and everything you’ve ever known or heard about.

The Overview Effect is a shift in awareness or mental clarity that some astronauts report during spaceflight while viewing the Earth from orbit. It refers to the experience of seeing 'up close' the starkness of the Earth floating alone in space with the entire universe in the background — without borders or human-made restrictions — wrapped in a paper-thin atmosphere protecting all living things residing below.

Have you ever experienced a profound feeling of connectedness similar to the overview effect? Let us know! We’d love to hear your inspirational thoughts.