3 minute read
Finding gratitude in nature
Looking up
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By Alison Bale
Professional Mindfulness Coach
Why taking time to ‘smell the roses’ is good for your mental health
When you actively look for things to be grateful for, you improve your relationship with yourself and with others.
The human mind is great at spotting problems. It’s a protective mechanism. But the bad stuff becomes like Velcro – it sticks – while the good stuff is like Teflon – slips right off. Consciously seeking things to approve of – birdsong, the flowers that herald the arrival of warmer weather, the hint of blue sky – can change your brain and improve your mental health.
Studies suggest practicing gratitude can:
• • Improve your sleep Help you feel more optimistic • Strengthen your immune system • Reduce loneliness and isolation.
For midlife women, finding things to be grateful for may even help reduce the duration and frequency of hot flashes and night sweats, and the stress associated with them.
How mindfulness can help
When you are mindful, you are aware of the present moment, just as it is. You notice what is going on around you, and you can consciously look for things to approve of. It’s a great way to slow down, and there are many ways the natural world can help us cultivate qualities of mindfulness.
Letting go – trees do not hold onto their leaves or their buds. They understand the progression and change associated with the seasons.
Patience – everything happens in its own time. The process of growth and change cannot be rushed and is not the same for every plant and species.
Trust – birds do not worry whether the branch they are sitting on will hold them. They trust that their wings will help them fly if it breaks.
Non-striving – the art of practicing while accepting that a particular outcome is not guaranteed. However well you cultivate your garden, the fruits of your labour are outside your control.
Even if you do not have a garden, or live in the countryside, there are ways to enjoy nature and bring the benefits into your home.
Four ways nature can help you practice gratitude
1Bring plants into your home and take care of them. Having something else to take care of can also help you take care of yourself. Perhaps choose a plant with blooms in your favourite colour, or a culinary plant, like a herb.
2Connect to your senses while looking at the outside world. Pick a spot where you can see outside. Now find things to be grateful for – five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, one you can taste.
3Exercise outside – even a short walk can be beneficial. The act of putting one foot in front of the other, left then right, can reduce anxiety, and can literally give you a breathing space. While you are out, take time to appreciate everything – the feel of the surface under your feet, the flow of the breeze, the sound of the birds, the smell of the earth.
4If you do not have access daily to your favourite places in nature, bring them to you.
Have pictures dotted around to remind you, or names and phrases that bring memories of the outdoors to you. Have some on your phone or computer, for whenever you need a boost.
There’s a word for the human need to connect with nature – biophilia. So, today, take time to slow down, look up, admire the view, and bring gratitude for nature into your life.
