“That is your dumbest question yet,” you may be thinking. Maybe – but read further before you decide.
In a 2013 study, subjects were taken to the tallest hardwood grove in North America. One group was instructed to look up at 200 foot tall eucalyptus trees while the other group was told to fix their sites on a plain tall building for the same period of time. Those who gazed at the trees felt more awe, were happier, and also acted more generously towards others.
Repeated studies have shown that the more time we spend in awe, the less time we spend thinking that “everything is about me” and that I need to control the world around me. As one physicist wrote, “All your selfish little concerns mean nothing next to the grandeur of the universe.” In other words, whether or not my spouse remembered to take out the trash pales in comparison to the vastness of the night sky. Individuals who mistakenly think the world revolves around them and their concerns, take themselves more seriously and what goes on around them more personally than do those individuals who are in awe of something beyond themselves.
Perhaps this is one of the unexpected benefits discovered by King David, the author of so many of the Old Testament Psalms, when he continually praised God Almighty for His creation and His activities in people’s lives – it kept things in perspective. And research shows that those who marvel at what is around them feel more connected to their peers and are more motivated to act for the benefit of others.
So, if you would like to feel more in touch with your spouse, I encourage you to look beyond yourself to the wonder of a world that you were placed in by an amazing God!