Sunset: Changes You for the Better
3 Benefits of Sunset Gazing
Watching sunset may have number of psychological benefits.
1. Emotional well-being.
In general, people who feel connected with nature have more positive emotions and are happier than those who don’t have this connection. Some are relaxed by watching people around the park, others are enjoyed and relaxed while watching the sea, and some are feel comfortable while at home.
A recent study led by Jia Wei Zhang at the University of California, Berkeley, helps explain why: Researchers found that connections with nature only predicted well-being in people who were accomodated to the beauty of nature. Need to tune up your awareness of natural beauty? It’s hard to beat simply sitting outside and drowning up a stunning sunset.
2. Concern for others.
Another study by Zhang found that the positive emotions aroused by natural beauty led to increased social well-being — feelings and behaviors characterized by concern for others. In one experiment, volunteers first looked at pictures of nature scenes and then played a game, which allowed them to be generous or stingy about giving away points to other players. The nature images had been pre-rated to determine how beautiful people thought they were. Volunteers who viewed beautiful nature images gave away more points, compared to those who viewed less attractive pictures.
In short, it wasn’t just looking at nature that put people in a generous mood. It was perceiving the beauty of nature. One example of that is a beautiful sunset.
3. Satisfaction with life.
Beauty enriches life, making it more rewarding. One study found that greater exposure with beauty was associated with higher levels of life satisfaction, gratitude and a spiritual outlook. The connection was strongest for engagement with natural beauty, as compared to artistic beauty (such as a poem, painting, or symphony) or moral beauty (such as an act of charity, loyalty or kindness).
One theory is that appreciation for the beauty of nature is so powerful because it’s instinctual rather than learned. There’s a natural tendency to stop and stare at a breathtaking sunset. When you do so, you’re likely to be caught up in the moment, and your mind gets a break from fretting over the past or worrying about the future. Afterward, you feel refreshed, and life just seems a little better.
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Below is a time lapse of a sunset taken at my former boarding house located at Brgy. Santiago, Iligan City. The video is only short.
Informative and beautiful. Thank you! 👍