Advantages of Nature: How to Create Well Being

The greatest advantage of nature is that when you’re in it, you bring in a sense of well being.

You’re able to be calm, still and quiet.

You’re in the present moment, where your five senses come alive.

Seeing: Advantages of nature in really seeing

When you’re in nature your eyes are on a swivel.

You’re not looking at a computer screen or phone ( I hope!). You’re looking all around you. You see the sky, the mountains in the distance, the birds overhead, and the contrast of colors.

You notice the tan color of what looks like wheat, but it’s probably weeds. You see the old oak tree that’s been there for over a century.

You see clouds or a clear sky.

As you’re looking at all of this, really look.

Pause, breathe, and look with astonishment at what’s been created to view.

This is seeing what’s around you from a spiritual perspective.

Being in nature helps you see life through your five senses. When you’re in the present moment, experiencing life through your senses, you feel alive.

Journal in nature

To help you ease into the outdoor vibe, For Everyone Respecting Nature (FERN), FERN Goods Co sells specialty outdoor items like journals and notebooks, dad hats, t-shirts, beach towels, and so much more.

One of the great advantages of nature is being able to be still with your thoughts, so bring a journal with you!

Hearing: What can you hear in nature?

The sounds of nature can be soothing or… not.

You’re walking along listening to the birds chirping, hearing the wind rustle through the trees… you’re in heaven with these sounds.

Then, a loud woman hiker comes along the trail on her phone. She’s ruining nature!

This is the toughest spiritual practice: coming to terms with what you can’t control.

You can’t tell loud obnoxious people to not walk on the trail! I wish you could, but you can’t!

So, you can turn these kinds of moments into a spiritual practice by turning your attention away from what you don’t want to hear or accepting it.

Again, keeping your attention on the present moment, you deal with what is there… birds chirping and oblivious people.

This is life.

And spirituality and soulfulness is about having a human experience as a spiritual being.

Feeling: What kinds of things do you feel in nature?

In nature you’ll feel the breeze on your face, the mist of rain, or a forceful wind will blow your hat off.

And those are just the external things you might feel.

What about internal feelings??

When you’re in nature, all kinds of inner emotions get stirred up!

But, while you’re focusing on being present… this can mess with your feeling of Presence!

For me, the feeling of Presence describes the connection to a power far greater than I am that runs through me.

Smell: What smells are in natural spaces?

While I like the smell of pizza and pasta… the smell of nature makes me feel alive!

Pizza doesn’t really make me feel alive. Or maybe it does.

The smell of cut grass, of wet leaves, of flowers blooming, of society’s garlic, of a hot day, of an eminent rain… these are the smells of nature. Smell is actually the oldest the senses.

And smell, connects us to memories we hold dear.

When you smell cut grass, does it remind you of your dad mowing the lawn?

Or the smell of certain locations in nature have their own smell.

For example, lakes smell like sitting water, old trees, and boat exhaust.

Being aware of smell connects you to THE MOMENT.

And anything that connects you to the moment, helps you be present, which is where we experience life.

Touch: What do you touch in nature?

Whenever I walk by a rosemary bush, I have to pet it. I run my hands along the branches, so I can smell the rosemary on my walk.

I love touching it.

I’ll brush my hands along the wheat-like weeds. I’ll pick up rocks that look particularly smooth just so I can touch them.

I’ve seen people run their hands along the trunk of a tree, to feel its roughness.

We can connect nature to you by touching it.

Mental health benefits

Mind.org.uk states, “Spending time in nature has been found to help with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.”

“For example, research into ecotherapy (a type of formal treatment which involves doing activities outside in nature) has shown it can help with mild to moderate depression.”

But, you kind of know that intuitively, right?

Don’t you feel calmer when you step into nature, away from stress and anxiety, and plug into the natural world?

A major reason to be in natural landscapes is because it improves well being.

Connection with the outdoors

Spending time outdoors makes you feel good. You’re able to see the sky, the buildings, the trees, it’s good for you to take it all in.

You can connect with the outdoors in many ways. You can go hiking, camping, and fishing. You can enjoy walks in the park or just sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. 

Being in nature helps people relax and lower their stress. It also offers peace of mind and tranquility. 

I’ve found that the unique soul is more easily expressed when there’s less pressure and your mind is quiet… as in nature.

Here are some other ways to connect with the outdoors: Go for a walk or hike in a natural area, visit a park or botanical garden, go camping or fishing, take a nature photography class, volunteer for an environmental organization, learn about the plants and animals in your area, spend time in your backyard or local park, or just sit and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.

Green spaces are good for your health

Spending time outdoors is appealing to many of us, especially where it’s green and lush.

Nature benefits us not only spiritually, but do you realize that being in nature actually improves mental health?

The National Library of Medicine states, “Nature connectedness was also positively associated with positive well-being and negatively associated with mental distress and was, along with green space visits, associated with a lower likelihood of using medication for depression.”

While they overuse the word, positively, they clearly state that being in green spaces reduced stress levels.

A natural environment

A natural environment is one that is not man-made.

It can be a forest, a desert, a mountain, or any other place that is not developed by humans. Natural environments are important because they provide us with clean air, water, and food. They also help to regulate the climate and provide us with places to relax and enjoy nature.

Here is a typical description of a natural environment:

The sun was shining brightly as I walked through the forest. The trees were tall and green, and the leaves rustled in the wind. The air was fresh and clean, and I could hear the sound of birds singing in the distance. I felt relaxed and at peace as I walked through the forest. I took a deep breath of the fresh air and smiled.

The natural world

Your sense of spirit can soar in the natural world and natural spaces.

There are lots of positive vibes in nature.

When you are spending time in nature, you experience well-being because you’re seeing something so beautiful that it takes your mind off of stress in your life.

Actually, you’re kind of surprised and jolted into the moment when you see something beautiful. This is your sense of spirit coming alive.

You’re seeing something different, close or far, and it resonates with you on a personal and spiritual level.

Final thoughts

Being in nature, in natural light, is physically healthy… and spiritually uplifting.

While there are clearly many health benefits of being in nature, like lowering blood pressure, improving well being, and other health outcomes, there are also spiritual reasons for spending time in the great outdoors.