Spring was slow and reluctant to arrive this year. Yet, even after a long and especially challenging winter in Minnesota, many of us stood patiently waiting at our garden’s edge, unwavering in our belief in the promise of spring and nature’s rich and enduring capacity for renewal.
Nature and mindful awareness are always in the present moment, softly calling us to be here, now. Whether drawn to the smell of lilacs in bloom, the call of early morning songbirds, or the feel of moist earth underfoot in the forest, we are continually being shaped and touched by nature’s beauty, intelligence, and resilience. We are reminded that we are of the earth; each breath we breathe we share with the leaves that rustle on the trees and the fish that swim in the water. If we listen quietly and look carefully, we remember how deeply interconnected we are with all of nature. We are not separate, and mindfulness and nature are intrinsically connected.
Many of us have long intuited that, not unlike mindful awareness, nature can be a healing partner. There is a reliable wisdom, an intelligence about nature that gently works to recalibrate our wellbeing and equilibrium. A growing body of research supports that time spent in nature can reduce stress and blood pressure, enhance mood, lower anxiety, and strengthen mental focus. Those who study biophilia (i.e., the theory that humans have an innate, genetic, and evolutionary affinity for nature and a deep connection with the natural world) point to the significant community wellbeing benefits that come about when we intentionally incorporate nature (and natural elements) into the design of our work and living spaces.
Nature may also serve to increase personal and relational wellbeing through its ability to inspire awe. Anyone who has ever witnessed the aurora borealis, a stunning sunrise, or another natural wonder can attest to this phenomenon. In her book, The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth, Zoe Schlanger, bestselling author and science writer, suggests that when we carefully observe all the evolutionary, life-giving, and transforming qualities of plants, it’s hard not to feel a deeper psychological connection to nature, including feelings of awe, humility, and wellbeing. Others, including Dacher Keltner, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, author, and founding director of the Greater Good Science Center, report that when we experience awe in nature, we also experience a renewed sense of belonging to nature. Experiencing awe is also reported to increase caring, connection, and empathy for our fellow human beings.
Unlike our ancestors, many of us now live our daily lives disconnected from nature and from the diverse plants, trees, ecosystems, and creatures—small and large—that freely roam our shared waters, earth, and sky. To ensure nature’s continued capacity for transformation, renewal, and healing — including our own human flourishing — may our actions always reflect the understanding that we are not separate from nature, but rather an intrinsic and genetically connected branch of its tree of life.