When people want to remember something, why do they look at the sky?

In an overstimulating world full of car honks, negative people, deadlines, and worries, there’s always one place I can turn to for stillness: the sky. The sky never fails to bring me in a state of complete awe. Whether it’s vibrant sunsets, starry nights, pink clouds or clear blue skies, you can always look up to get some peace of mind.

As it turns out, looking at the sky during your morning stroll isn’t only good for the pretty views. Sky gazing has actually been proven to reduce stress levels by helping you put your emotions in perspective.

“When you realize that everyone is in the sky instead of under it, as many people perceive themselves, you get a stronger sense of connectedness.” — Jack Borden

Ecopsychologist Sarah Conn says that simply being aware of the sky can help anyone under stress experience their situations in a larger context. It will be easier to detach themselves from their situation, take that feeling of outside space and turn it into a feeling of spaciousness within themselves.

Apart from that, observing the everchanging sky gives people a sense that their own feelings move the same way,” Dr. Conn says.

“Stormy or gentle, feelings all come and go. But above the clouds, the sky is always there, always blue.”

Next time you’re out on a walk, try to raise your gaze. If you think about it, we’re always walking with our heads locked at eye-level or lower. And it makes sense. Most of our day, we only interact with things within this focal range. But now, knowing that sky-gazing has real benefits for our mental health, I hope you are inspired to look up every once in a while — even if it’s just for a few minutes.