Why Nature is Good for Your Soul

I'm a huge proponent of spending time outdoors.

When life seems overwhelming with its tasks and responsibilities, sometimes the best antidote is time spent outdoors in nature.

Staying close to nature, observing all the little and significant elements of it, and appreciating it from the very core, is therapeutic and self-healing.

Our affinity toward nature is genetic and deep-rooted in evolution. For example, have you ever wondered why most people prefer to book accommodations that have a great view from the balcony? Why patients who get a natural view from their hospital bed recover sooner than others? Or why does it happen that when stress takes a toll on our mind, we crave to to figure out things amidst nature?

Being in nature, or even viewing scenes of nature, reduces anger, fear, and stress and increases pleasant feelings. Exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.

Here are a few reasons why it can be beneficial:

- There is no societal influence. If you found yourself suddenly transported into the woods with nothing surrounding you but nature, you would likely have no idea what year, or even century, it was. There are no trends, influences, or expectations and you are free to ponder life in its purest form. It can be very spiritual to spend some time removed from anything.

- It is a reminder that you are not infinite. Plants and animals live and die to make room for the next generation. Humans are no exception to that rule. When we spend time in nature, we are reminded how short life is. We need this perspective in order to remember what truly matters. Life is precious.

- It has a calming effect. That's why people love views of the water, sunrises and sunsets, mountain ranges etc.

- There is always more to learn about our planet. When you think you've seen it all, spend time in the outdoors and realize how little you actually know about the planet. There is a lot that we haven't discovered yet!

- It teaches us about living in harmony. Hundreds of species of plants and animals live amongst us in a small area. This is the way the eco-system is meant to work. Each fragment contributes to a greater balance as they coexist.

- It is a reminder that everything looks perfect from far away. A wave crashing on the sand might look beautiful to us as we watch it from afar. When we appreciate the beauty of the autumn leaves, we don't thing about the fact that those brilliant colours signify that the leaves are dying. These lessons can be applied to our lives as well. You never know what kind a pain someone is hiding beneath a seemingly happy smile. You never know the parts of people's lives that you can't see.

- It is a reminder that chaos is a part of life. Just watch a thunderstorm from your window to remember that while nature appears to be so peaceful, there is mayhem brewing at any given moment. Chaos is inevitable, and life is always going to fall into place seamlessly. While the messy parts of life may not always be resolved positively, there is always a chance you will find a rainbow at the end of the storm.

“Study Nature, love Nature, stay close to Nature. It will never fail you.”