When you look into a beautiful starry night sky or look across a vast body of water, there’s something that overcomes you with joy and the peace in nature. Enjoying a wonderful scene of nature evokes a sense of happiness as you connect to the universe around you. It’s not too rare when you’re overwhelmed with awe from absorbing the power of nature.
This sense of awe that happens when your senses are exposed to natural beauty is beneficial to your brain and soul. By surrounding yourself with environmental wonder, you can improve your mental functioning and ground yourself in your universe for overall well-being.
The Benefits of Finding Awe in Nature
Reduced Negative Emotions
Immersing yourself in natural scenery can influence your mood and lower your levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and anger. By breathing in the fresh air and appreciating the wonder of a beautiful sky, lake, or immense trees, your blood pressure will lower along with your cortisol production. You’ll notice a slowed heart rate to improve your breathing and alleviate tension in your body.
Distraction From Pain
Our body’s response to nature is related to our genetic programming. Therefore, when we access water, air, trees in environmental landscapes, we become distracted, and our mood improves. Our sense of pain will lower, which allows the body to restore and tolerate injury or painful stimuli.
Improved Focus
As your brain calms, your mind becomes clearer. This leads to heightened focus and attention as you become aware of your surroundings. Your senses are heightened when in awe of a beautiful scene, leaving you more alert with stronger cognition.
Humility and Sense of Unity
When you connect with the natural grandeur of nature, your awareness of your position on the planet heightens. Comparing yourself to massive landscapes and natural scenes has been proven to cause humility and empathy as your perspective is shifted. By uniting with these large settings and grounding yourself, you may notice more compassion for your environment and others.
How You Can Experience Beauty of Nature and Its Benefits
To access the wonder of nature and its impact on your mental health and connection with the universe, you will want to commit about 2 hours weekly to being outdoors. If you live along a body of water, find scenic outlook points like the end of a hiking trail, a beach, or a waterfront path to stroll and witness its beauty. Or, find a forest with trails or walkable routes that you can follow and enjoy what is called a forest bath. Peace in nature is something you cannot explain until you have felt it . The more we connect to the earth, the more we can connect to ourselves!
Whether you choose a large piece of nature with wildlife, streams, waterfalls, or only your backyard, ensure to be present and express gratitude for the wonders that surround you.