As our lives become more hectic with each passing year, it’s no wonder that levels of stress, anxiety, and illness continue to rise. We’ve become a culture that feeds on negative media, synthetic lighting, and a reliance on instant gratification. This inevitably leads to feelings of emptiness, unhappiness, and disconnection. Fortunately, undoing some of this damage can sometimes be as easy as stepping outside to take a walk in the park or dangle your toes in a lake or river. Nature can be a powerful healer—especially if what ails you stems from too much stress and time spent indoors. Here is how nature makes us happier, healthier individuals.
Nature Makes us Feel Connected to Something Larger
It’s easy to feel disconnected from the universe as a whole when you’re stuck indoors. Whether you become laser-focused on why you don’t seem to be as happy and successful as all of your friends on social media or you get sucked into negative news stories on television, feeling alienated and alone is the inevitable result. When you step outside and look up at the huge sky, touch the blooming flowers, and hear the hum of insects, it once again becomes clear that we are all connected to a much larger whole. Nature reminds us that life is not about how many ‘likes’ you have, it’s about being part of an interconnected universe that values each and every one of us for exactly who we are.
Nature Brings Us in Tune with the Cycles and Rhythms of the Earth
When was the last time you went to bed when the sun set and rose with the dawn? In today’s society, we rely on artificial light, the jarring sounds of alarm clocks, and schedules set not by nature, but by our own need for MORE. This knocks us out of alignment with the natural rhythms and cycles of the earth and makes us feel more and more disconnected. When you spend time in nature, you remember that each season has its own unique features and each day it’s own timeframe. This can help you sleep better, improve your mood, and become more in tune with the only schedule that really matters—the universe’s.
Nature Makes Us Pay Attention to the Little Things
Our attention is constantly being demanded by bigger, brighter, and louder distractions. From ear-splitting car horns to frantic calls from the boss, we are always being pulled toward the distraction that is the most insistent. When you step away from the chaos and step into nature, you have a chance to pay attention to the quiet, undemanding little things in life. When we concentrate on the beauty of a flower petal or the sweet melody of a breeze through the grass, we remember that nature has a way of bringing us back to center and helping us see that there is majesty all around us.
It’s common these days to feel like you are never doing, giving, or being enough. In an effort to please everyone, you often end up doing everyone a disservice—including yourself. By stepping away from your hectic life and stepping into nature, you begin to heal by simply being one with the universe.