Spiritually Connecting to the Environment

How do I spiritually connect to nature?

Connecting with nature brings us many benefits, such as positively impacting our mood and reducing our stress levels, therefore sharpening our focus and refining our spirituality. Activities such as gardening, jogging in nature, or immersing ourselves in natural elements such as forests and rivers are all common ways to connect with nature.

Why is connecting with nature important?

1. Reduce Your Stress

Spending time in nature has been shown to help reduce stress. Studies have found that being in a forest or taking a 90-minute walk in nature can lower stress levels, blood pressure, and activity in parts of the brain related to mental health problems.

We don't know exactly how nature helps us relax, but some experts believe it's because we have an innate connection to nature from our evolutionary history. Many other studies also support the idea that spending time in nature can have positive effects on our emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

2. Sharpen Our Focus

Connecting with nature can help us concentrate better. The Attentional Restoration Theory says that focusing on tasks depletes our mental energy, and being in nature helps replenish that energy. This happens because nature involuntarily captures our attention and gives our brains a break from mental fatigue.

When we're in a natural environment with interesting things happening, our attention is engaged without effort. Being in an exciting place that feels like an adventure and is different from our everyday routine helps restore our ability to pay attention.

3. Benefit Us Spiritually

In our modern world of technology and urban cities, it's easy to forget how relaxing and amazing nature can be. Spending time in nature gives us a break and helps us relax. This relaxation can help clear our minds, make us more aware of our feelings, and give us space to think things through. Being in a natural environment can also change our perspective and help us make new discoveries. Everyone experiences the spiritual benefits of nature differently, but it's clear that spending time in nature has significant benefits for all. To make the most of our time in nature, we should all engage our senses, be mindful, and pay attention to our natural surroundings.

Nature has many benefits that are becoming more widely recognized, although the exact reasons for these benefits are not yet fully understood. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can improve our cardiovascular and respiratory systems, boost our immune system, and help us feel better overall. Urban areas are also incorporating natural elements to improve our well-being. Countries like South Korea are investing in forest healing, and Singapore is promoting nature activities. This increased focus on nature is due in part to the loss of natural spaces in our world. We need to preserve and cultivate what we have left to continue enjoying these benefits.

What are some benefits of spiritually connecting to nature and appreciating nature?

Spirituality involves peace, self-meaning, purpose, and connectivity with that which exists around us. Nature’s ability to mediate an intricate sense of awe ties in deeply with our spiritual well-being can aid us not only in healing and rest, but also in transcending our personal limits and perspectives.

Immersion in nature has been shown to produce many benefits, both on an individual level, and by extension, for society as well. Paying attention to nature is less effortful in comparison to man-made environments, it provides us a restorative effect which allows us to take respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

The unique sense of serenity, stillness and calm found in nature facilitates effective meditation and the release of stress. Engaging in leisure activities related to nature such as hiking or gardening has shown to reduce stress even during dire times, and can provide excellent mindfulness opportunities that rejuvenate and strengthen our mental health, better preparing us for our daily responsibilities and future obstacles.

What are some benefits of spiritually connecting to nature and appreciating nature?

Awe, as defined by Seo, Yang, and Laurent, is the sensation experienced when we perceive objects or scenery that are incredibly vast in comparison to ourselves and the environments we are used to.

Features of awe in nature drive us to experience a sense of transcendence beyond the self, motivating prosocial behaviour and generosity towards others. Being within the boundaries and sheer size of nature can help reframe our perspectives of ourselves and our place in the world. This in turn creates an effective space in which we are able to self-reflect, explore our spirituality, and our interconnectedness with the world around us.

What are some benefits of spiritually connecting to nature and appreciating nature?

Beyond promoting prosocial behaviour, experiencing awe has also been shown to foster our identity as global citizens; this positively influences our awareness, extension of empathy and appreciation, interconnectivity, and sense of responsibility on a global scale. This is especially beneficial in our time as we witness increasing global challenges that impact us as a collective.

Having a sense of awe towards nature also allows us to appreciate it better and helps put into perspective how our impact on the world is threatening the ecosystem we all live in; recognising the positive and healing role of natural environments can motivate us towards adopting more sustainable practices to reduce our footprint. We are all part of a global community and we do not live in isolation; on the larger and smaller scales, we all depend on one another. If we can come together to provide support and share resources, between nations and also between neighbours, we can make this world a better place for everyone.

Click here to download guide